The Devon Awards programme offers sponsors and partners a range of year-round benefits, including web links, media coverage, industry profile, communications with business, networking and business development opportunities with Services for Tourism Ltd. Benefits start when we launch each spring, continuing for 12 months until the following spring.
There are a range of options ranging from £500 to £5000. Information on opportunities is available HERE, for more information please contact Robin Barker, Services for Tourism Ltd, at rbarker@services4tourism.co.uk or 07870 397438.
Sponsors & Partners to date are:
Title Sponsors
Wildanet
www.wildanet.com/Wildanet is an independent internet service provider, bringing high-speed broadband to homes, businesses and communities.
Formed in 2017, Wildanet is investing £50 million to build a brand new network to connect many areas that are still without access to fast, reliable internet and creating many new jobs in the process.
The solutions needed to connect rural communities are often not straightforward and require local knowledge, specialist technical skills supported by great customer service. Wildanet provides this unique service with the aim of helping those communities that have been digitally excluded, benefit from fast, reliable internet connectivity.
All Sponsors & Partners
MiHi Digital
www.mihidigital.co.ukMiHi Digital has worked with more than 150 award winning tourism businesses from across the country over the past four years and built a proven track record when it comes to increasing website visitors, conversions and bookings for a wide range of accommodation providers.
They work with all tourism business on website design, search engine optimistation and social media management, as well as offering a wide range of training to business owners.
Plymouth Business School
www.plymouth.ac.ukPlymouth Business School’s Department of Tourism and Hospitality delivers teaching across a number of programmes, including Tourism Management and Hospitality Management, as well as more specialist courses such as Events Management and Cruise Management.
Staff within the Department also undertake exciting and innovative research covering such subjects as: genocide heritage; tourism and crime prevention; tourism employability; and the development of tourism and heritage related narratives. Plymouth staff have also published articles in top-rated tourism journals such as the Annals of Tourism Research and Tourism Management.
The department has strong links with industry, reflected in part by the Plymouth University Hotel School, and boasts a number of opportunities for students to study a foreign language alongside their degree, thus equipping them for the exciting world of international tourism and hospitality.
Visit Devon
www.visitdevon.co.ukTourism is the largest revenue generator in Devon. 90% of visitors to the county are domestic visitors, with the majority being independent and not coming through the travel trade. More than 465,000 visits were made to Devon by international visitors alone in 2015 – more than a 5% rise over 2014. This resulted in a total expenditure of nearly £164m, with an average spend per visit of £352. Around 25% of the workforce in the county relies on tourism in some way. Tourism is crucial to the economy and prosperity of Devon. Visit Devon CIC exists as the destination marketing organization for Devon, with the aim of making Devon the place to visit.
Bays Brewery
www.baysbrewery.co.ukBays Brewery is a multiple award winning, family run business based in Torbay, on the Devon coast. Our passion is to brew premium products using the finest local ingredients whilst supporting the community and protecting the environment.
Our products are delivered to pubs, restaurants and shops all over the South West and further afield which firmly establish us as one of the region’s top breweries.
Plymouth Gin
www.plymouthgin.comPlymouth Gin is England’s oldest working Gin Distillery - our craft began way back in 1793 and we’ve been here ever since. There’s no place like home and we love welcoming people to ours, so why not visit us for a distillery tour or a drink in our Refectory Bar.
Anytime Booking
www.anytimebooking.co.uk.Anytime is an innovative online booking and management software, powering the outdoor holiday market around the clock. We support hundreds of campsites, holiday parks, glamping sites, motorhome hire businesses and holiday let agencies all around the UK. Our multi-accommodation focus is one of our key differentiators in this market, along with our reputation for having the fastest and highest quality support.
Save precious time with automation, live availability and payments, intuitive dashboard and reporting, and integrated guest services. Drive up sales using our carefully selected partnerships with leading distributors like campsites.co.uk, Cool Camping, Pitch Up, TXGB and Rentals United. If you need a new website, create one with our new drag and drop website builder - beautiful results with no need to code! Fully supported from our HQ in Cornwall, our cloud-based platform is mobile-friendly and is racked, stacked and packed with all the tools a busy holiday business needs to stand out and thrive
Devon Life
www.devonlifemagazine.co.ukDevon Life magazine is THE guide to the best of the county – giving you an unsurpassed package of features, columnists and news stories.
Published 13 times a year – including an extra Summer Special issue – Devon Life offers unrivalled coverage of all there is to see and do in Devon. Every month it includes town profiles, walks, wildlife and fascinating and unique stories about the people, places and history that makes Devon so special. There’s coverage on the county’s food and drink scene as well as an arts and culture section, which includes a What's On diary with star interviews. Add in property, interiors and gardening - and you have the complete guide to everything Devon.
Dartington Crystal
www.dartington.co.ukDartington Crystal is the major private employer in Torrington and surrounding rural areas, which is very important to the South West and UK economy. All hand-made crystal items are still produced at Dartington Crystal in Torrington meaning the factory is the only working hand-made tableware producing crystal factory left in the UK.
Tozers
www.tozers.co.ukTozers are the award-winning leading lawyers when it comes to park law. As legal advisers to the British Holiday and Home Parks Association for over 65 years, we are at the cutting edge of legal developments affecting the parks industry. Our dedicated and experienced team advise parks businesses small and large, throughout England and Wales, on a wide range of issues.
We offer a comprehensive legal service for both our commercial and private clients, always staying one step ahead and seeking new perspectives, which is why we are one of the top-rated law firms.
We put our clients first. We’re Tozers, thoughtful legal partners for a changing world.
Lifeworks
lifeworks-uk.orgLifeworks is a learning disability charity, based in Dartington, Devon. Each year we support over 200 children, young people and adults in Devon with learning disabilities to have great lives. We have residential and short break social care services, specialist further education, and lots of community projects with our young people leading the way.
Our mission is to create opportunities for people with learning disabilities and their families so that they can reach their full potential and are engaged with and valued by their communities. We believe that by raising the aspirations of people with learning disabilities they will achieve an ambitious future and have a great life.
DCW Polymers
www.dcwpolymers.co.uk/Based in Exeter, DCW Polymers is the only specialist plastics recycling and reprocessing plant south of Bridgwater, and the first and only firm in the South West to process waste plastics into recycled furniture in-house.
Made from 100% recycled British plastics, the award-winning outdoor products range includes picnic benches, park benches, dining sets, fencing, decking, dog agility and children’s play equipment all handmade by DCW Polymers’ joiners.
The sustainable, long-lasting products are weatherproof and will not rot, splinter, or corrode. Completely maintenance free and with a 25-year guarantee, customers can purchase out right or enjoy long-term rental options.
Touch Stay
touchstay.comTouch Stay makes your guests happier!
Our digital guest books replace and revolutionise the printed guides and leaflets of the past. It’s time to put those wasted years managing Word docs, PDFs, binders, and clunky website templates behind you. Our digital guidebooks enable you to answer all your guests’ questions in a format that’s convenient and easy to use.
It works by storing your content in a single online location. Then we package the content into an easy-to-use format that guests love. It looks beautiful on any device or computer, works offline, and can even be saved to a PDF and printed.
If you’re wondering what the ROI is, it’s simple: better reviews lead to more bookings, and fewer questions mean more time to run your business. It’s a win-win.
Booking.com
www.booking.comAt Booking.com, we combine 20+ years of industry experience with continuous data-backed insights to provide you with the services, products and support you need to grow your business. That’s why we offer the tools, visibility and round-the-clock support you might not get on your own.
We’re proud to be the world’s number one accommodation site for bookings. More than 1.5 million room nights are booked on Booking.com every single day. With such a large customer base, we can help you reach a vast audience of potential guests, from every corner of the globe – meaning you have access to entire new markets, all in one place
The Samphire Club
www.thesamphireclub.co.ukA private members club launched in April 2016 to promote effective networking throughout the South West and London.
Made up of invited members and corporate partners from the private sector, The Samphire Club will be small enough to be exclusive but with the connections and know-how to bring the South West and London closer together.
Our members enjoy great company, great times and make valuable business connections while relishing the finest food and drink the South West has to offer.
Member benefits include:
- A club magazine and membership card with privileges
- 4 free events a year
- Business networking events
- The satisfaction of helping us raise funds for our nominated charities and attending the annual charity dinner.
The Samphire Club: good for members, good for business and good for London and the South West.
Destination Plymouth
www.plymouth.gov.ukDestination Plymouth is a private/public sector partnership and formally recognised DMO for Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City. Our role is to increase visitors to the city, grow visitor spend and tourism related jobs. We are funded by Plymouth City Centre Company and Waterfront Partnership BIDS, Plymouth City Council and membership income from businesses across the city and surrounding area. Visitor numbers have jumped in the last ten years to over 5 million in 2019 with strong post Covid recovery in 2021.
Our support includes product development, green tourism accreditation, marketing to UK, international, cruise and conference sectors, research and grant funding.
Guestline
www.guestline.comGuestline gives hoteliers the confidence to achieve their boldest ambitions. As market leaders in cloud-based technology, we believe all hoteliers deserve more - more revenue, more direct bookings, more guest time, more insight, more confidence and more satisfaction. The Guestline platform is designed with this in mind.
With over 30 years of experience designing and developing hospitality software, we understand the challenges and opportunities faced by the industry. That is why, whether you are an independent hotel or a group of hotels, our fully integrated, cloud-based solutions have the flexibility to meet your individual requirements, providing a cost-effective way to uncover your full potential and optimise revenues and bookings. Join over 3000 Guestline customers globally to streamline your operation, power your distribution and enhance your guest's experience. Unlock your full potential with Guestline- your key to more!
AGI
www.agigrass.comAGI specialise in the design and construction of bespoke adventure golf and mini golf courses, working with our clients to create individual courses that range from budget mini golf to top end adventure golf. We install synthetic par 3 golf courses, sports areas, pitches and re-surfacing of multi-use games areas, encompassing a customer focused approach throughout.
AGI also supply and install playground equipment and commercial synthetic grass for all areas. We can support the upgrading of existing play areas and construction of new ones.
Handelsbanken
www.handelsbanken.co.uk/enHandelsbanken is a local relationship bank, built on satisfied customers, financial strength and sustainable values. We support local communities across the country, helping individuals and businesses with their financial needs.
Our decentralised model means that each branch operates as a local business, so they can get to know their customers well and understand the local market and community. Our branches are empowered to make the key banking decisions for our customers.
We aim to be a responsible contributor to the communities we serve, and work to make a positive difference wherever we can for our customers, our people and the environment.
Voltshare
voltshare.co.uk/VoltShare provide scalable and cost-effective destination EV Charging solutions designed for hospitality venues of any size. Our unique managed solutions and automated billing remove operational strains on your staff, giving your business the freedom to have more for less. Without restrictive decade-long property leases or subscription fees, your venue has the unique opportunity to offer essential charging facilities without hefty install costs while receiving the lion’s share of charging profits.
From independent self-catering properties, boutique hotels, tourist attractions to hotel groups and large pub companies, VoltShare are the ideal choice in realising your EV charging ambitions.
Luscombe
luscombe.co.uk/We’re offering Tourism Award entrants an exclusive offer, buy 3 cases of Luscombe soft drinks, get any 1 case of Tonic free of charge! Simply contact our team and quote ‘Tourism Awards’ to take advantage of this offer.
At Luscombe we’re passionate about making premium soft drinks. We hand select organic ingredients from trusted growers worldwide and produce our drinks in Devon, England. Our range of multi-award-winning drinks contain soft Devon water from our own spring and freshly pressed organic fruit. Every step from sourcing, harvesting, juicing, blending and bottling receives our undivided attention.
With a Royal Warrant in hand, over 100 Great Taste Award stars from the Guild of Fine Food and an abundance of positive customer reviews, we know you’ll love them.
Luscombe, elevating every experience since 1975.
Granny Gothards
www.grannygothards.co.ukGranny Gothards have been making traditional handmade ice creams in the South West since 2012 and still make them today in the same way they always have.
Using milk collected daily from the local farm, Oak Park Dairy, and adding fresh South West double cream, Clarence Court egg yolk and only the highest quality ingredients for flavours, it's no wonder the ices have won a vast number of TOTW and GTA awards, the latest being Supreme Champion Food & Drink Product in the South West in 2021. They were also awarded Best Food Product in Devon 2022/2023.
Supplying top hotels and restaurants in the UK, Dubai, Kuwait and Singapore, as well a premium retailer Waitrose, Granny Gothards are proud of their 195 flavours and have shown it's possible to upscale an artisan product without compromising on why people love you after their very first spoonful. Granny Gothards always delivering unforgettable luxury.
Sunflower Social Media / Social Media Management and Solutions
www.sunflowersocialmedia.co.ukSunflower Social Media is delighted to support this year's South West Tourism Excellence Awards. Located in the South West, Sunflower Social Media supports a wide range of businesses, helping them to maximise the return from their social media.
Making time for social media can be hard. Only you can run your business the way you know how and so we create and implement social media strategies for you, sourcing content and dealing with all your engagement and community growth, leaving you to do what you do the best.
Curworthy Cheese
www.curworthycheese.co.uk/For the last 30 years Curworthy Cheese has been made at Stockbeare Farm situated in the mid Devon countryside under the shadow of Dartmoor. A perfect area for grass growing with its unique climate of rain and humidity.
The milk is sourced from Dunstaple Farm Holsworthy - a single herd grazed outside in the fields during the summer months.It is delivered early in the morning after milking has finished pasteurised to make this award winning cheese. Curworthy is a full fat hard cheese with a creamy light buttery taste when young and developing into a full flavoured mellowness when aged. The curd after pressing overnight in traditional presses is then matured in special temperature controlled ripening rooms. No colouring or preservatives whatsoever are added - except salt which enhances the flavour and lengthens the cheese's life.
Curworthy Cheese is available from all good specialist cheese shops and delicatessens. It is also available from country and agricultural shows and fairs in the South West along with local Farmers Markets. You can also buy online.
Quality in Tourism
www.qualityintourism.comQuality in Tourism has been relaunched as an independent accreditation service, offering grading, mystery shopping and specialist tourism and hospitality expertise.
Our experienced team have worked in various tourism and hospitality roles, giving them a true empathy and understanding of the issues within the industry. From mystery customer visits and website reviews to RevPAR and marketing analysis, we work with our members to offer practical help and assistance, with the aim of driving additional sales and increasing profit.
Our assessor team can star rate your property without the prescriptive standards of other schemes, recognising your quality and its appeal to customers, without insisting on outdated physical measures irrelevant to your customers. Our entry level scheme gives assurances to your customers, it is appropriately named Safe Clean & Legal TM. We offer special accolades to help you promote your properties to customers looking for your particular offerings.
Our experience, expertise and insight into the industry allows us to respond to current trends and assist members to deliver what the customer actually wants.
NFU Mutual
www.nfumutual.co.uk/agent-offices/exeterIt’s our mutuality which sets NFU Mutual apart. We’re owned by and run for you, over 900,000 members, and we work hard to protect your interests. From our 295 local agent offices offering personal service to our tailored quotes you can’t get on price comparison sites, your needs are at the heart of everything we do.
Gaining accolades is one way of being recognised for the high standards of customer service and cover which we provide. We take pride in the fact that many of our general insurance products have received recognition from third parties, demonstrating our commitment to providing a comprehensive level of cover.
But we’re not standing still. Supporting our communities is very important to us. We’re committed to helping protect the environment, championing rural communities, charities and businesses through events and initiatives, and continuing to offer the best care possible
Vickery Holman
www.vickeryholman.comAs one of the most established and well respected firms of Surveyors, Vickery Holman deliver property consultancy services across the South West. With offices in Truro, Plymouth, Exeter and Bristol they deliver local expertise within the region to their regional and national clients. Regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors their local experts offer a full range of services and specialise within the leisure industry to provide:-
Commercial sales, acquisitions as well as business rates consultancy for hotels, holiday parks and self-catering complexes;
Service charge administration and management for commercial property and holiday parks;
Valuation for secured lending, accounting and tax purposes;
Building surveying services including surveys for purchase, project management and planned maintenance and new developments.