With 14 categories up for grabs, the prestigious awards celebrate some of the region’s best hotels, restaurants and individuals who exemplify the region’s vibrant visitor economy.
The awards will be held in Spring next year with many of the winners going on to represent the region at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, giving tourism business the opportunity to shine and represent our region on a national stage.
This year the North East picked up two Gold awards for Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours for Experience of the Year and Kidlandlee Holiday Cottages for Self Catering of the Year. Silver went to Langley Castle Hotel for Resilience and Innovation Award and Rockliffe Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort was awarded a Bronze in the Large Hotel of the Year category.
NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) was also awarded Silver in the new TXGB Trailblazer Award for its New Adventures website – a campaign funded by North of Tyne Combined Authority and led by NGI in partnership with Visit Northumberland and North Tyneside Council.
A special award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism will also be announced on the night. This year’s winner was actor and TV Presenter Robson Green.
Sarah Green, chief executive of NGI said: “Congratulations to the businesses and individuals who have been named as finalists, we look forward to celebrating with them at the awards ceremony next year.
“Tourism is without doubt a huge asset for the region’s economy and as the first government-funded regional tourism pilot we have set ourselves the ambitious target to double the size of the sector in the next ten years – creating more jobs, driving innovation, ensuring an accessible and inclusive welcome for all and creating year-round demand.
“As part of the pilot we are working closely with the businesses at the heart of our visitor economy to deliver a business support programme to ensure the sector can reach its full potential. Businesses such as these announced today are key to raising that profile and achieving those targets.
“We have some exciting developments set to open in the region over the next few years, including The Sage ICC and The Sage Arena, which will help to further propel the North East as a leading visitor destination.”
Delivered by Destination North East England and ran in partnership with VisitEngland, (NEETA) celebrate quality, innovation, and best practice, showcasing the fantastic range of high-quality experiences on offer for visitors in our region. Destination North East England is led by NewcastleGateshead Initiative on behalf of the region, working with delivery partners Visit Northumberland and Visit County Durham and in working in partnership with all seven local authorities.
Sponsorship packages are available for the awards ceremony to find out more email:
North East England Tourism Awards 2024 Shortlisted Businesses
(in alphabetical order)
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
Northumberland National Park, NORTHUMBERLAND
Seventeen Nineteen, SUNDERLAND
Spectrum Holidays, NORTHUMBERLAND
The Alnwick Garden, NORTHUMBERLAND
Vindomora Country Lodges, NORTHUMBERLAND
Business Events Venue of the Year
Crowne Plaza Newcastle Stephenson Quarter, NEWCASTLE
Event Durham, Durham University, DURHAM
Newcastle Civic Centre, NEWCASTLE
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
Hadrian’s Wall Campsite, NORTHUMBERLAND
Woodland Chase Glamping, NORTHUMBERLAND
Vindomora Country Lodges, NORTHUMBERLAND
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
Dalton Park, DURHAM
Northumberland Zoo, NORTHUMBERLAND
Kidlandlee Holiday Cottages, NORTHUMBERLAND
Experience of the Year
Athey’s Moor Flying School, NORTHUMBERLAND
Blackfriars Cookery School, NEWCASTLE
CBK Adventures, NORTH TYNESIDE
Serenity Farne Islands Boat Tours, NORTHUMBERLAND
Large Hotel of the Year
Hotel Indigo Durham, DURHAM
Matfen Hall Hotel, NORTHUMBERLAND
Rockliffe Hall Hotel, DURHAM
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, DURHAM
Hall Hill Farm, DURHAM
Northumberland Zoo, NORTHUMBERLAND
Whitehouse Farm Centre, NORTHUMBERLAND
Ushaw Historic House Chapel and Gardens, DURHAM
New Tourism Business Award
Hiddle Hut, NORTHUMBERLAND
Holiday Inn Sunderland, SUNDERLAND
Seventeen Nineteen, SUNDERLAND
Pub of the Year
The Beresford Arms Whalton, NORTHUMBERLAND
The Joiners Arms, NORTHUMBERLAND
The Twice Brewed Inn, NORTHUMBERLAND
Self-Catering Accommodation Provider of the Year
Chesters Stables, NORTHUMBERLAND
Honeybee Cottage, NORTHUMBERLAND
Kidlandlee Holiday Cottages, NORTHUMBERLAND
Vindomora Country Lodges, NORTHUMBERLAND
Small Hotel of the Year
Langley Castle Hotel, NORTHUMBERLAND
Seaham Hall, DURHAM
South Causey Inn, DURHAM
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Falconry Days, NORTHUMBERLAND
Kielder Observatory, NORTHUMBERLAND
The Spanish Gallery, The Auckland Project, DURHAM
Taste of North East England
Blackfriars Restaurant, NEWCASTLE
Spanish City, NORTH TYNESIDE
The Old Boathouse, NORTHUMBERLAND
The Lord Crewe, Bamburgh, NORTHUMBERLAND
Unsung Hero Award
Michelle Kindleysides (Beamish, The Living Museum of the North), DURHAM
Duncan Wise (Northumberland National Park), NORTHUMBERLAND
Michael Wortley (Stephenson Steam Railway), NORTH TYNESIDE
