PRESS RELEASE

22 June 2012

Vote4Cornwall in the British Travel Awards

The shortlist for the British Travel Awards has been revealed and with representation from Cornwall across the categories, the county is in prime position to reap multiple titles - but your votes are needed!

In the coveted Best UK Holiday County or Region category Cornwall is battling it out against The Lake District, Isles of Wight and Cumbria to claim the title for the fourth consecutive year. Meanwhile, Cornwall’s recently refreshed online travel and tourism guide, is in the running for Best UK Visitor Guide Website.

Malcolm Bell, Head of VisitCornwall, the Cornwall Development Company tourism service, comments: “The British Travel Awards are the most recognisable and sought-after accolades in the industry and being decided by public vote are a true barometer of success. To be chosen as the premier destination for the fourth consecutive year would be a massive coup for Cornwall and I am hugely excited to see our new website, visitcornwall.com, shortlisted - with its innovative customer service features I believe it is leading the way in destination websites.

“I would urge anyone with a love for Cornwall, whether they are a local or visitor,to vote by visiting

To bolster the county’s hopes further,local businesses and areas have been shortlisted in numerous other categories. St Ives and the Fal River double Cornwall’s chances for Best UK Coastal Town and the Minack Theatre and Eden Project are friendly rivals for the title of Best UK Leisure Attraction. The Minack Theatre is also in the running to win Best UK Heritage Attraction and Fal River is a contender for Best UK Waterways/ Lakes Boat Operators as well as for its website alongside VisitCornwall.com.

Joan Symons, Cornwall Council Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Leisure,adds: “Cornwall has enjoyed tremendous success in award charts over the last few years but as these multiple short listings show, the county isn’t resting on its laurels but continuing to strive to be the best which is vital in the ever evolving tourism industry. It is pleasing to see so many worthy local businesses in the running for the awards and contributing to Cornwall’s premier status.”

The British Travel Awards boast overseventy categories and span every type of holiday experience, making them the largest awards programme in the UK. Voting is open until end of September and the winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony on 1st November at the Battersea Evolution in Battersea Park, London.

For more information and to vote for Cornwall visit

ENDS

VisitCornwall

VisitCornwall is a service of the Cornwall Development Company, Cornwall Council’s arms length economic development company.

VisitCornwall undertakes the destination marketing function for Cornwall and promotes the area’s distinctive qualities to the domestic market and key international markets through targeted marketing campaigns.

British Travel Awards (BTAs)

The largest consumer voted awards programme in the UK, The BTAs are designed to reward the best companies in travel, and the winning accolade is the benchmark for excellence when it comes to finding out who really is the best in the business of travel for the UK consumer.

All companies entered for an Award were put before a core selection of industry professionals, drawn from the BTA Academy, a panel of respected individuals in business from both in and outside the travel industry, who whittled the nominations down to the list of final nominees in each of the seventy-five categories. The next stage sees the shortlisted companies put before the public vote with voting promoted through BTA media partners which include The Times, Sunday Times, The Sun, Sunday Sun and the Global Radio stations, including LBC and Classic FM.

Further information

Julia Hughes – Tourism Press & PR Executive

01872 322928