Member Article

Rockliffe Hall clinches top national tourism award

Rockliffe Hall in Hurworth, County Durham has won another VisitEngland Award for Excellence- having been shortlisted for the awards an unprecedented three years running.

The 5* resort picked up the silver award for business tourism, having already clinched the title of best in the region at the North East England Tourism Awards held earlier this year. It’s the first time that a North East establishment has made the final of the VisitEngland Awards for three consecutive years.

The business tourism award acknowledges the huge importance of the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector to the tourism industry. Rockliffe Hall was singled out for its exceptional efforts in attracting business tourism from not only all over the UK, but as far afield as the Middle East and the USA. Recent corporate clients have included a delegation from Sabic, one of the world’s biggest chemical giants based in Saudi Arabia, mobile phone operator EE, Samsung, the Premiership, Team GB and the US Ladies football team ahead of their Olympic campaigns in London.

Rockliffe Hall was second only to the ExCel in London and Manchester Exchange, two of the UK’s most prominent business venues hosting major exhibitions and events, at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence final held at The Point at Lancashire County Cricket Club at Old Trafford in Manchester on Monday 20th May.

Managing director of Rockliffe Hall, Nick Holmes, said: “I’m thrilled for all the team at Rockliffe Hall and the North East region as a whole that this business tourism award has come home with us. The VisitEngland Awards are extremely prestigious and to be a finalist for an unprecedented third year running is such a coup. We’re competing with locations in city centre areas- like London- which is really difficult but we are getting there. Businesses are starting to appreciate what the North East has to offer- exceptional transport links, superb visitor attractions, great restaurants and stunning scenery- whether it’s for business or pleasure. I’m really proud to be able to represent the North East region at this level and against some massive competition.”

At last year’s awards, Rockliffe Hall was named as VisitEngland’s Hotel of the Year beating off competition from well-known names such as Bovey Castle in Dorset, the Trout Hotel in Cockermouth and Rudding Park in Harrogate.

The VisitEngland Awards for Excellence celebrate the best of English tourism and promote healthy industry competition and high standards in categories including Access for all Tourism Award, Best Tourism Experience, Business Tourism Award, Large Visitor Attraction, Outstanding Customer Service and Travel Article of the Year.

Other winners this year included the Science Museum in London, The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, Cutty Sark in London, Beaulieu in Hampshire, Holbeck Gyll in Cumbria and Kielder Water and Forest Park in Northumberland.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Addison .