Published: Tuesday, 4th February 2025
Some of the city’s best hospitality and leisure businesses have been shortlisted for awards at the prestigious Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards 2025.
The annual awards ceremony - sponsored by the University of Staffordshire – recognises the diverse range of attractions, accommodations and food and drink businesses and will be held in Stoke-on-Trent this year as part of the city’s centenary celebrations.
This comes as latest figures show that a £2.3 billion tourism boom has seen more visitors flock to the area and numbers using the sector are up 30 per cent since 2019.
World of Wedgwood has been recognised with several nominations, including for the International Tourism Award, Large Visitor Attraction of the Year and the tea room has been nominated in the Taste of England – Tea Room & Coffee Shop of the Year category.
Jemma Harrison, Director of Destinations at Fiskars UK Limited, who run World of Wedgwood, said: “We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for three awards this year, especially in the new category of International Attraction of the Year.
“The team at World of Wedgwood have worked hard to build brand awareness within the inbound travel market as well as creating bespoke itineraries and products for our international guests. It’s fantastic news to be shortlisted for an award which reflects such great collaboration between the marketing and operational teams.”
Doubletree by Hilton, on Festival Park, has been shortlisted for two awards, in the categories of Large Hotel of the Year and their Revenue, Sales & Marketing team have been nominated for Team of the Year.
Middleport Pottery has been shortlisted for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year and two restaurants, including Lunar Restaurant, are finalists for Restaurant of the Year.
Craig Wilkinson, Director and Owner of Lunar Restaurant, said: "Words cannot express how much it means to everyone at Lunar to be finalists in the category of 'Restaurant of the Year' in our home city which we are so proud to serve and celebrate.
“Our guests travel from near and far to experience our wonderful county which as well as being steeped in history has so many wonderful opportunities, people, organisations and places to explore in 2025."
Other local businesses that have been shortlisted at the awards include:
- Adventure Mini Village (New Tourism Business of the Year)
- Dusk Beaver Safari at Trentham Estate (Experience of the Year)
- Trentham Estate (Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award/Large Visitor Attraction)
- Waterworld Leisure Resort (Large Visitor Attraction)
- Willow on the Trentham Estate (Restaurant of the Year)
The hard work and talent of employees has also been recognised with Jodie Knapper being shortlisted for the Unsung Hero Award (Trentham Estate) and Daniel West being shortlisted for the Rising Star Award (The Upper House Hotel).
Councillor Jane Ashworth, Leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “It is amazing to see so many businesses in Stoke-on-Trent being recognised at the Tourism Awards and the brilliant work of our residents being acknowledged and celebrated.
“In our centenary year, it is great that we can spotlight the very best that our city has to offer in leisure, hospitality and tourism and we are confident our year-long programme of fantastic events will drive many more people to come and discover what a wonderful part of the world this is.
“I would like to congratulate all the people and businesses that have been shortlisted at this year’s awards and wish them the best of luck at the ceremony.”
The winners will be announced live at a ceremony on Thursday 20th March 2025, at the Doubletree by Hilton, Stoke-on-Trent.
For more information, visit www.enjoystaffordshire.com/awards
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