Visitor services in Brighton & Hove have received a major accolade with both the
Brighton Centre and tourist Information shortlisted for the prestigious Tourism
ExSEllence Awards.
The Brighton Centre has been shortlisted for the ‘Business Tourism Award’ while
Brighton’s Visitor Information Service has been shortlisted for ‘Tourist Information
Service of the Year.’ Both services are part of Brighton & Hove City Council.
The Tourism ExSEllence Awards recognise excellence, quality and innovation achieved over the last 18 months and award categories cover all sectors of the industry, from Bed & Breakfast businesses to large exclusive hotels and visitor experiences.
The Brigh ton Centre is at the forefront of Brighton & Hove’s tourism and conference market, maintaining and enhancing the city’s position as a premier conference, entertainment and exhibition destination and plays a big part in boosting the local economy.
It has a 30 year history of offering national and international conference accommodation to associations, political parties and commercial bodies. Built in
1977, every prime minister since James Callaghan has taken part in a political conference at the Brighton Centre.
Brighton & Hove’s Visitor Information Centre won the regional category for tourist information in 2007 and subsequently gained the Silver award nationally.
Based next to the Royal Pavilion shop, the Visitor Information Centre is open every day of the week offering information on all there is to do and see in the city.
In April this year staff joined up with the Brighton Toy & Model Museum to open the first official satellite Visitor Information Point in the city. The museum is in one of the arches under the railway station where over three million visitors arrive by train. Staff are now in discussions with Brighton Marina about the possibility of launching a similar scheme there.
Another recent innovation was to open a full UK train ticket office. It means you can buy tickets for any train journey in the UK direct from the Visitor
Information Centre. Staff offer a full transport information and sales service to customers, whether they want to travel by local bus, National Express coach, or by train.
Councillor David Smith, cabinet member for culture and tourism, said: “It’s wonderful that the Brighton Centre has been recognised for its immense

contribution to business in the city. They have a wealth of experience and provide a personal service to customers.
“The Visitor Information Centre is at the forefront of helping visitors get the best possible experience out of their stay in Brighton & Hove. The quality of their service can be seen by the millions of visitors who come here every year, all yea r round.”
Winners will be announced at a glittering gala dinner to be hosted at the
Wentworth Club, Surrey, on Thursday, 22 October 2009.
The Tourism ExSEllence Awards are the premier awards for the tourism industry in the South East and winners in this region will go on to compete in the national
EnjoyEngland Awards for Excellence in April 2010 which will be hosted in
Brighton
– another big win for the city!
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Contact: Julie Harris, Brighton & Hove City Council, (01273) 291037