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Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
This award is for Visitor Attractions with more than 50,000 visitors per annum. The
award covers venues that can be visited within its published opening times and offers
tours and other activities as part of its overall visitor experience. Attractions will be
judged on the overall quality of the experience they provide.
Please make sure that you complete the application form as fully as possible, failure to
do so may mean that we are unable to shortlist your application.
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Who can enter?
This category covers visitor attractions of all kinds, with over 50,000 visitors per annum,
including attractions that offer pre-booked tickets, museums, interpretation centres, theme parks,
historic houses and castles. Venues that are open on specific days of the year for special
events may enter, but sporting events such as race days cannot be classified in this category.
It is preferable, but not essential at this stage, that entrants will be signed up to the National
Code of Practice for Visitor Attractions
(www.visitengland.org/busdev/accreditation/attractions/codeofpractice).
Participants of the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme (VAQAS) or the Place of Interest
Quality Assurance Scheme (PIQAS) are encouraged to use their report as evidence to support
their application (www.vaqas.org.uk). Attractions who have not entered into either of these
schemes can still enter the North East England Tourism awards, however, if successful at a
regional level, progression onto the National Awards is not possible without this accreditation.
Previous Awards Winners and Finalists
Previous Award Winners and Finalists are no longer excluded from entering the following year’s
competition. Applicants will be required to give full details of all Awards received, on the
application form.
Judging
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The first stage of judging is based on evaluations of the written applications and evidence.
A shortlist of entrants is selected from the written applications, who may then receive a
judging visit. Shortlisted parties will have the chance to win Gold, Silver, Bronze or Highly
Commended in each award category, however, please note, just because a business is
shortlisted, it doesn’t mean that it will win an award.
Announced visits will be undertaken to all shortlisted businesses. It should be noted however
that for some categories such as ‘Tourism Event’ which may be retrospectively submitted for
consideration, the assessment will be a desk based exercise.
Businesses will be notified in late September 2015, if they are shortlisted.
Judges will be looking for evidence of excellence and best practice in all areas of business
operations.
A word limit has been set for each section/question and it is strongly recommended you keep
your entry to the stated word count.
Any claims made in applications must be substantiated and may be subject to testing by
judges.
Judges and Judging panels will be comprised of representatives appointed for their
extensive experience and knowledge of the region and/or the tourism Industry.
Supporting evidence
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Whilst it is not a requirement of entry, we encourage you to provide supporting material and
evidence to help the judges fully understand and assess your application.
Evidence must be clearly referenced to the appropriate question. Evidence that is poorly
presented or not clearly referenced will not be considered.
Consider providing relevant supporting evidence such as photographs, extracts of marketing
initiatives/collateral, brochures, menus, training plans & awards, press cuttings, examples of
customer letters, examples of feedback forms, staff newsletters, access/green policies,
access statement, etc. providing that they can be supplied electronically. All support material
must be attached using common Microsoft formats or as PDFs.
Please do not overdo the amount of information you provide, and do not upload DVDs, CDs,
Videos etc. The judges will not consider these at the initial judging stage. We may, if
appropriate, ask for these at a later stage.
Next Steps
Complete the application form and return a hard and electronic copy to NGI with any
supporting information by 4pm on Friday 04 September, 2015. Your hard copy should
be sent to;
Anne Howes
NGI
9th Floor
Baltic Place East
South Shore Road
Gateshead
NE8 3AE
Your electronic copy should be sent to tourismawards@ngi.org.uk
If you are unable to submit your application in both formats, please contact us on 0191
440 5722 to discuss how we can best assist you with submission of your application.
Terms & Conditions
By submitting an entry into the North East England Tourism Awards, you agree to be
bound by the following terms and conditions:
 The closing date for receipt of entries is 4pm on Friday 04th September 2015.
 Employees or representatives/agents of VisitEngland are not eligible for entry into the
Awards
 Businesses can enter more than one category, but separate entry forms and
supplementary information must be completed for each.
 Each category may have additional eligibility criteria such as a specific Quality Rating or
Quality Award. Please check the ‘Who can enter’ section above for more information.
 By entering the Awards, you agree to be part of the publicity if you are a finalist in any
category.
 Please note that NewcastleGateshead Initiative or their agents do not accept
responsibility for the return of any entries and/or supplementary information, including
those consisting of artistic or other material.
 The judges’ decisions are final and they cannot enter into discussion about the
shortlisting process, choice of finalists or choice of winners.
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In the event of any dispute regarding the awards criteria, application forms, judging
process or any other matter relating to the Awards, the decision of the judges shall be
final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.
All businesses entering the competition will be given written feedback from the judges.
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Contact Details
Contact Name:
Business/Property Name:
Business Type:
Address:
Telephone:
Mobile:
Email:
Website
PR Contact Details
(if different from above)
Business Details
Are you a current participant of VAQAS or
PIQAS
How long has the business been operating
(Yrs & Months)
How many Staff do you employ: (Show
proprietors/owners + Full + Part time)
Give details of any periods the
property/business is closed:
Give Visitor Number details
These figures are used to give a full
years figures
Total Visitor Numbers:
Peak Season Visitors (Apr to Sept)
Low Season Visitors (Oct to March)
Last 12 Months
Previous 12 Months
(i.e. April 14 to March 15)
(i.e. April 13 to March 14)
Give a brief history of your business/service (max 200 words)
Finalists will demonstrate exceptional commitment to excellence in quality,
customer care and business practices in the following areas:
1: Your Commitment to Excellence (max 300 words):
Describe your values, philosophy and commitment to excellence, and tell us what you think
puts you above the competition and at the top of your sector of the industry. What is the
unique selling point of your business and how do you communicate that to your visitors?
Previous Awards:
Please list all Awards since 2013
Title of Award
Level (e.g. Gold)
Awarding
Organisation
Year
2: Outstanding Customer Service (max 300 words):
Describe your customer care values and philosophy and give examples of how you believe
that your service is outstanding. Include how you handle enquiries, visitor welcome and
arrival, the visit itself (including service at meal times) and departure. Also describe how you
deal with complaints. Please give examples, remember that your VAQAS or PIQAS report is
relevant evidence for this section.
3: Staff Training & Development (max 200 words):
1. Please detail your training values and philosophy for your business. How do you ensure that
you and/or staff remain motivated, feel part of the team and gain the correct knowledge to
ensure that the customer receives high quality service? What investment has been made in
staff training and development in the last 2 years and give examples how this has improved
the experience of visitors to your attraction?
4: Quality Improvements & Developments (max 300 words):
Give details of any specific Quality Improvements and Developments that you have made to
your business to enhance your visitors experience within the last two years. May include for
example, refurbishments, addition of new facilities or services etc. What impact did this have
on your business? For example, increase in business, increase in positive customer
comments. Please give examples.
5: Innovative Marketing and Promotion (max 300 words):
2. Give details of your target market(s) and describe how your product fits the audience you are
targeting. Have you carried out any research into these market(s) and explain briefly how
you attract new and/or repeat business and any innovative marketing and promotional
campaigns you have carried out. What impact did this have on your business? For example,
increase in business, increase in positive customer comments. Please give examples.
6: Accessibility (max 200 words):
Give details of how your business / service is accessible to all visitors, particularly people
with impairments and others with physical and sensory access needs. Give examples of;
a. Customer service including disability awareness training
b. Accessibility information provision and promotion (provide a copy of your Access
Statement)
c. Access facilities and services
7: Sustainability (max 300 words):
7.1: Sustainability. Give specific examples of how your business is embracing
sustainability. In particular in the following areas (note; all areas must be covered)
 The local economy (local purchasing, local produce. Employing local people,
supporting other local businesses)
 Residents and visitors (forging links, local community groups or schools, connecting
with charities, encouraging access for all in employment and or visitors)
 The environment (managing energy, waste or water consumption)
7.2: Sustainability. Please describe how you communicate your efforts to make your
business more sustainable and how you encourage guests and employees to get involved.
A brief outline of your business (max 150 words):
All shortlisted applicants will be featured in the North East England Tourism Awards, Awards
Ceremony Programme. Please provide us with a brief outline of your business that will be
printed in the programme.
Please also submit one image that will also be printed in the programme.