The Department of Economic Development has announced the finalists for its 2013 Tourism Awards, with the winners to be announced on Monday, December 2.
This year’s shortlist for the awards includes three nominations in each category. The nominations are:
Best Customer Service Isle of Man Golf Tours, Groudle Glen Cottages, and Isle of Man Event Services.
Best Hotel Accommodation Rutland Hotel, Welbeck Hotel, and Ramsey Park Hotel.
Best Guest Accommodation The Arches in Port Erin, Croit-Ny-Bane in Andreas, and Raymond’s Bed and Breakfast in Douglas.
Best Self Catering Accommodation Laxey Harbour Chalets, Beach Cottage, Maughold, and Kionslieu Farm Cottages.
Laxey Harbour Chalets won the award in 2012, their third win, and have been nominated five times in the category.
Best Eating Out Experience Jaks Bar and Restaurant in Douglas, Patchwork Cafe in Port St Mary and Creek Inn in Peel.
Best Campsite and Hostel Laxey Campsite, Saba’s Glen Yurk in Union Mills, and Venture Centre in Maughold.
Laxey’s Quarry Road campsite also won the award last year, its third win in five nominations.
Best Attraction Milntown, Isle of Man Trike Tours and Groudle Glen Railway.
Isle of Man Trike Tours, run by former police inspector Andy Turner, also scooped the Best Attraction award last year.
Best Town or Village Port Erin, Peel, and Castletown.
Castletown are the current holders, winning last year’s Best Town crown.
Rushen MHK Laurence Skelly, political member for tourism, said: ‘We received hundreds of nominations this year with a high quality of nominees.
‘These awards recognise the contribution of tourism, leisure and hospitality. We are seeing increased visitor numbers this year through the department’s targeting of certain niche markets and new innovations such as the Festival of Motorcycling which boosted visitor numbers and visitor spending this year.
‘We have received reports that businesses in the sector have increased revenues by over 15 per cent compared to last year’s Manx Grand Prix.
‘Visitor spending was also up by 5 per cent in 2012 which is encouraging.
‘TT 2014 is already looking like another bumper event and we’ve already received enquiries for next year’s Festival of Motorcycling.
‘Together with the Island of Culture 2014 programme of events I’m confident that we will enter the New Year on a strong footing.
‘Over the past year we have seen 22 new hotels or guest houses set up, with a further 10 in the pipeline.
‘New attractions like Segway Tours and Ape Mann Adventure Park have also added to the things to do in the island.’