The Trentham Estate Is Highly Commended At Top Tourism Awards
23 May 2012
The Trentham Estate was Highly Commended at the biggest tourism awards scheme in the country last night.
VisitEngland’s Excellence in Tourism Awards is one of the most glittering and prestigious events on the domestic tourism calendar.
Named as a finalist in the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category, The Trentham Estate is now guaranteed to receive either a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Highly Commended award at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence awards ceremony, which will be held at Athena in Leicester on Tuesday, May 22nd.
The achievement is even greater - given the fact that Visit England received a record-breaking 392 applications for this year’s Awards.
One of the country’s largest historic garden restoration projects The Trentham Estate combines award-winning gardens, lake and sweeping parkland.
Ongoing regeneration since 2004 has added a wide range of extra facilities, including a huge Garden Centre, Shopping Village, the unique Trentham Monkey Forest and a Premier Inn hotel.
Organisers commented: “The quality of applications was very high and only the very best made it through to become a finalist.”
The awards dinner will be a black tie affair with a sparkling English wine reception followed by an evening meal, and full awards ceremony.
Already established as one of the top attractions in the Heart of England, and one of the most visited gardens in the whole of the UK, The Trentham Estate is likely to now benefit even more from the increased profile of being named in the short list for the country’s best Large Visitor Attraction.
Said Mike Herbert, Director of The Trentham Estate and Regional Director of St. Modwen Properties PLC: “We are delighted that The Trentham Estate has been recognised as one of the top large visitor attractions in the country.
“This achievement in reaching the awards final is a testament to the whole team involved in this massive restoration project and in running, and managing, the Estate.
“It also recognises the huge popularity of the attraction, which last year attracted an incredible 3 million-plus visitors, and it’s our commitment to ensuring guests have a great experience on every visit that drives our desire to keep striving towards tourism excellence.”
Commenting on the finalists James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive added: “I would like to congratulate all those nominated as VisitEngland Awards for Excellence finalists this year. This is no small achievement in a year when we have received a record number of submissions.
“The quality of submissions this year has been outstanding and The Trentham Estate, near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, can justifiably take credit and pride in earning a place at the top of their category in England. I wish everyone all the best for the final in May.”
For more information visit www.trentham.co.uk
-ENDS-
For all media information, photo-opportunities and images, please contact:
Amanda Dawson
Tel: 01782 657341
E-mail: adawson@trentham.co.uk
Notes to editors:
The Trentham Estate, on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, offers one of the UK’s most diverse days out with a range of leisure activities for all ages. Owned by St. Modwen Properties PLC, the UK’s leading regeneration specialist, the 725-acre Estate - which was previously owned for over 400 years by the Dukes of Sutherland - has undergone a massive regeneration programme over the last eight years. It boasts the famous Trentham Gardens, including the very important Italianate Gardens designed by Charles Barry in the 1830s that have been lovingly restored using top landscape designers. The gardens feature the UK’s first ‘barefoot’ walk, a great children’s adventure play area and maze and a beautiful walk around the mile long lake; the Trentham Garden Centre and Shopping Village, an eclectic mix of shops and eateries; Trentham Monkey Forest - home to 140 endangered Barbary Macaques; Aerial Extreme, an exhilarating treetop high rope adventure course, and a 119 bedroom Premier Inn hotel. For full details of all Trentham’s attractions, events, opening times and prices visit www.trentham.co.uk
About the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012
The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012 celebrate the best of English tourism. They promote healthy industry competition and high standards, helping to ensure England’s place as a world-class destination. www.visitenglandawards.org
The 19 categories for the 2012 awards include: Access for all Tourism Award, Bed & Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year, Best Tourism Experience, Business Tourism Award, Caravan Holiday Park, Large Hotel (over 35 bedrooms), Large Visitor Attraction (over 100,000 visitors), Outstanding Customer Service, Self Catering Holiday of the Year, Small Hotel of the Year (under 50 Bedrooms), Small Visitor Attraction (under 50,000), Sustainable Tourism Award, Taste of England Award, Best Tourism Event, Tourist Information Service, Tourism SuperStar, Travel Article of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award.
Included in the 19 categories is the additional award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism to be announced on the night. Previous winners of this award have included The Great English Pub, Michael Eavis CBE, HM The Queen, the Harry Potter films, Sir Cameron Mackintosh and in 2007, Sir Paul McCartney, Liverpool and The National Trust.
And the team from The Trentham Estate returned to Stoke-on-Trent, from the Athena in Leicester last night (May 22nd), with a top commendation - having lost-out to the Beamish Museum, County Durham, in the race for the title of the Best Large Visitor Attraction in the country.
Hosted by VisitEngland Chairman, Lady Cobham, the evening concluded with the presentation of awards in 15 different categories.
The Trentham Estate was one of just five shortlisted finalists flying the flag for the Heart of England - and the only representative for Staffordshire.
The evening marked the end of a long application procedure, starting last November, with completion of a lengthy application form outlining The Trentham Estate’s massive achievements since it once again opened its gates to the public just eight years ago.
One of the country’s largest historic garden restoration projects The Trentham Estate combines award-winning gardens, lake and sweeping parkland. Ongoing regeneration since 2004 has added a wide range of extra facilities, including a huge Garden Centre, Shopping Village, Aerial Extreme, the unique Trentham Monkey Forest and a Premier Inn hotel.
A philosophical Mike Herbert, Director of The Trentham Estate and Regional Director of St. Modwen Properties commented: “Tonight was all about The Trentham Estate taking its rightful place at the top table of the domestic tourism industry. We always knew that we were up against some outstanding competition in our category, but to have been shortlisted for the top prize, and come away with a Highly Commended award is still a fantastic achievement.
“This is another great moment in the Estate’s long history. It’s a fitting tribute to all of the staff and management at The Trentham Estate - as well as to all of our tenants. But most importantly of all, it’s something the people of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire can be equally proud of. They’ve taken Trentham to their hearts again, and helped to put it on the winners’ rostrum.”
For more information visit www.trentham.co.uk
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