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Welcome to the Tourism South East news section.
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Tourism ExSEllence Awards 2008
Press Information
60 tourism businesses in South East England have been shortlisted for this year's prestigious Tourism ExSEllence Awards. With a total of 15 Award categories, including ‘Sports Tourism’, ‘Best Tourism Experience’ and ‘Business Tourism’, the Tourism ExSEllence Awards are the premier awards for the tourism industry in the South East, managed by Tourism South East. They cover all kinds of tourism organisations, from small Bed & Breakfast businesses to large exclusive hotels and visitor experiences. Winners in this region will go on to compete in the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence in 2009. The winners will be announced and the Awards presented at a glittering gala dinner to be hosted at the exclusive Wentworth Club in Surrey on 28th October.
Judges are looking for excellence, quality and innovation covering all aspects of the business, from Customer Service, Sales & Marketing, to Training & Development for staff. Shortlisted entrants receive great benefit from the Awards in terms of, for example, profile-raising and motivation of staff.
Please click here to view the shortlisted business across the region
Latest Stats for the National Quality Assessment Scheme
VisitBritain have received the latest statistics on the National Quality Assessment Schemes. The number of new applications versus lapsed are slightly highly overall for the period April 2008 to date.
Regional Summary by Star Rating
Regional Summary - all sectors
The Main Event – 18 September 2008
Click here for more information on this years AGM, Tourism Council and Members' Conference.
Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2008
The South East picked up 3 Gold Awards and 1 Silver at this years' glittering awards ceremony held at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 23 April 2008. Check out our award winning businesses.
British Tourism Framework Review
Tourism South East in partnership with Tourism Alliance and other industry bodies are continuing to lobby the government to increase its support to the tourism industry.
As part of this lobbying activity we have submitted a formal comment on the British Tourism Framework Review which can be read here
Following last year's announcement of funding cuts of 18% over the next three years Tourism South East have been supporting the 'Take Tourism Seriously' campaign.
Towards 2012
Tourism South East's strategy for the making the most of 2012 was released at the Tourism Council & Members' Conference on the 26th March 2008 at the recently reopened and improved Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire.
Read more about our 2012 strategy by clicking on the logo above.
Coastal Access
The government have published the draft Marine Bill which proposes to extend Coastal Access around the full length of the English coast. Tourism South East lobbied the government to include exceptions to the legialtion for our commercial members who own land along the coast. These exceptions have been included in the draft Bill.
More information can be downloaded here.
Budget 2008
The Chancellor published his first Budget on Wednesday 12th March. Read about the implications for the tourism sector in the South East here.
Employment Law
New, stiffer penalties have been introduced for employers who are caught employing illegal workers. Read more on our business advice pages.
Industry Feedback on QIT Assessments
Results from participants contacted between June and August last year are now available.
Record Year for Excursions 2008
Excursions 2008, the UK's premier one day group travel show held at Alexandra Palace, North London on Saturday 12 January, was a resounding success attracting a record number of visitors and exhibitors.
Read more on Excursions 2008.
National Quality Assessment Schemes
TSE is now receiving periodic updates from VisitBritain outlining the volume of businesses currently participating in the National Quality Assessment Schemes. View the regional statistics including new applications and lapsed businesses.
Major booking engine, LateRooms, have joined forces with VisitBritain where all quality assured properties listed will now carry the official rating, distinguishable from self-accredited ratings. Click here for LateRooms Summary Note.
LAA Toolkit
A GOSE web based toolkit has been developed to guide Local Strategic Partnerships to embed culture and sport within their Local Area Agreement. The tool kit aims to link culture to national and regional strategies and assist local authority officers who want to make a strong case for culture to be recognised as a local priority. For more information on the toolkit please read the promotional letter or visit their website.
Highlights from the Major Sports Conference held on 06 October 2007 at Blenheim Palace
Exciting New Membership Benefits Launched
There are now more reasons than ever to become a Tourism South East member. Find out about the new membership benefits.
400+ Companies Enjoy Welcome E-Learning
Free Climate Change advice leaflet
Clear, practical and helpful advice and information on climate change and what it means to tourism businesses is now available in a free leaflet from the South East Climate Change Partnership.
Archived Press Releases