The English Riviera swept the board with a record collection of accolades at the 2022-2023 Devon Tourism Awards. And the winners now go forward to regional and national awards, and recognition, later this year.

In the wake of the Covid pandemic, the English Riviera simply excelled at last week’s Devon Tourism Awards - with four gold, five silver and four bronze awards and the very prestigious Winner of Winners award. Never before has this number of accolades been won by English Riviera businesses in the Devon Tourism Awards, with winners to now be considered for the South West Tourism and Visit England Awards taking place later this year. More than 200 people gathered at Home Park in Plymouth to celebrate, the first major tourism awards event since the pandemic and the atmosphere was fantastic. This really was a night to remember as many of the Bay’s leading tourism and hospitality businesses were invited to the stage, including Kents Cavern, Lincombe Hall Hotel, Cary Arms and Spa, Reach Outdoors, Pier Point Restaurant and Bar, Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company, TLH Leisure Resort and the English Riviera BID Company. To be shortlisted you have to go through a rigorous application process that includes answering a number of thought-provoking questions and presenting compelling evidence to demonstrate that you really are the best at what you do.

The Devon Tourism Awards are an annual event and all tourism and hospitality businesses are warmly invited to enter. There are many different categories to apply for, with multiple categories if you wish. This was demonstrated by Kents Cavern, resulting in them justifiably winning the much-coveted Winner of Winners award. Carolyn Custerson, chief executive of the English Riviera BID Company, said: ‘‘One of the advantages of entering the Devon Tourism Awards is that every applicant receives comprehensive feedback which really helps further develop your business for the future. A fresh pair of eyes is always very useful and the feedback has helped us develop the Visitor Information Service to benefit everyone.’’

For more information about the Devon Tourism Awards and future application dates, visit www.devontourismawards.org.uk

To view Torbay Weekly's special Devon Tourism Award feature, with a full list of English Riviera winners and images, click for front cover, first page, second page.