Best Tourism Event
The Best Tourism Event and Festival Award promotes those events and festivals that take place throughout the year
Gold winner
The Tall Ships
Hartlepool
This iconic event has a vibrant festival atmosphere and includes international entertainment, an eclectic music programme, food from around the world and sparkling fireworks display held over three evenings.
Silver winner
Larkin with Toads
Yorkshire
The quirky and utterly charming Larkin with Toads commemorated the 25th anniversary of poet Philip Larkin’s death and combined artistic imagination with a business-like ambition and a certain quirkiness.
Bronze winner
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Bristol
This magical four day-long event located in the rolling hills of Ashton Court Estate welcomes 500,000 visitors every year and has become as much of an icon for Bristol as Brunel.
Highly Commended
Aintree John Smiths Grand National
Liverpool, Merseyside
The Grand National is the most prestigious horse-racing event of the year, taking place in April on the edge of Liverpool and celebrated by 154,000 racegoers over a three-day meeting.
City Events – Mint Polo in the Park
London
This award-winning outdoor and superbly stylish sport and lifestyle event, MINT Polo in the Park offers a mixture of culture, entertainment and glamour over three themed days.