Released: 25 September 2007
Direct Enquiries Nominated for Prestigious Visit London Award
Visit London today announced the shortlist for the prestigious Visit London Awards 2007, sponsored by Eurostar. The capital’s top leisure and tourism businesses fought off unprecedented competition to reach the shortlist.
The annual awards highlight the very best of the capital, including accommodation, attractions, entertainment and cultural events. They showcase London’s leaders in creativity and innovation in areas such as customer service, product development and marketing.
Visit London’s Chief Executive, James Bidwell, said: “The Visit London Awards go from strength to strength each year. This is reflected in the record number of entries received this year, and the consistently high standard of the nominations.
“Many congratulations to all of the shortlisted businesses. It is their hard work and dedication to quality that ensures London’s position as the world’s top city destination.”
The Visit London Awards are sponsored by Eurostar for the third consecutive year. Simon Montague, Eurostar’s Director of Communications, said: "London is about to become even more accessible to overseas visitors, thanks to the opening of St Pancras International in November. So tourist attractions which strive to raise quality help both themselves and London to increase their share of the global market. The shortlisted entrants have set high standards that the whole of London's tourist industry can emulate."
The awards are judged by a range of senior industry experts. Nominees have to demonstrate high standards in their arena and show commitment towards areas such as sustainability, accessibility, training and development and investment in the local community.
The winners will be announced at a glittering celebration at The O2’s fantastic new music venue IndigO2 on 29 November. Tickets will go on sale from early October at visitlondon.com/awards.
The Evening Standard, ITV London Tonight and LBCNews1152AM are media partners for the Visit London Awards. Each partner will host online voting for one of four public-vote awards, which will give London’s residents and visitors a chance to vote for their own favourites. Further details will be announced in October.
ENDS
For more information please contact:
Visit London Press Office
Tel: 020 7234 5710
Email: pressoffice@visitlondon.com
Further information is also available at visitlondon.com/awards.
Visit London
Visit London is the official visitor organisation for London. Our role is to promote London as the most exciting city on the planet, targeting domestic and overseas leisure and business visitors as well as Londoners. Visit London works in partnership with the Mayor, the London Development Agency and the tourism industry in London.
Eurostar
Eurostar services will finish at Waterloo International on the evening of 13 November and the business will switch to St Pancras International overnight to minimise disruption to travellers.
Eurostar will also open a new intermediate station at Ebbsfleet International a few days after the move to St Pancras International. Ebbsfleet International is strategically located just off junction 2 of the M25 near the Dartford Crossing and Bluewater shopping centre in north Kent, and will have 9,000 parking spaces. It will complement Eurostar’s existing Kent station at Ashford International.
Visit London Awards 2007 Shortlist
Visitor Attraction of the Year Award
British Airways London Eye
Horniman Museum
The London Dungeon
National Maritime Museum
Southbank Centre
Victoria and Albert Museum
Large Hotel of the Year Award
The Dorchester
Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill
The Landmark London Hotel
London Kings Cross St Pancras Premier Inn
The Metropolitan
Renaissance Chancery Court
Small Hotel / B&B of the Year Award
The Capital
The Draycott Hotel
The Halkin
Phoenix House
The Sumner Hotel
The Zetter
Hostel of the Year Award
The Globetrotter Inn London
MEININGER City Hostel & Hotel London
Palmers Lodge
St Christopher’s Village
Best Tourism Experience
BBC Tours
The Big Bus Company
Grims Dyke Hotel
Leisure Pass
The London Dungeon
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour
Sports Tourism Award
Arsenal FC Stadium Tours
Face Partnership - Smithfield Nocturne
London Blue Badge Guides
Transport for London - Tour de France Grand Départ 2007
Best Celebration of Cultural Diversity
EVENTICA – Russian Winter Festival
Hackney Empire Theatre
LIFT (London International Festival of Theatre) – Eat London
Madame Tussauds – Shah Rukh Khan/Bollywood Campaign
Museum of London – Belonging: Voices of London’s Refugees
Southbank Centre – The Overture
Business Venue of the Year sponsored by Confex Group
Barbican
EC&O Venues
Emirates Stadium
ExCeL London
One Great George Street
Silver Fleet - Woods River Cruises
Business Event of the Year sponsored by ISES (UK Chapter)
BRIT Awards by BPI Limited
British Airways Club Launch 2006 by FITCH Live
Ford Motor Company at the British International Motorshow by Imagination
International Confex 2007 by Confex Group
The London Borough of Havering Business Awards
The M&S Head Office Annual Conference by Fresh Approach UK
National Express Group Leadership Conference by DRP Group
The Orange British Academy Film Awards Gala Dinner by 195 Piccadilly
Sustainable Tourism Award
Apex City of London Hotel
EC&O Venues
HarperCollins Publishers UK
National Maritime Museum
Novotel London West
West Lodge Park Hotel
Accessible Tourism Award sponsored by the London Development Agency
Artsline
English National Ballet
Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG)
SHAPE
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum
Best Visitor Information Initiative
Britain and London Visitor Centre
Direct Enquiries Ltd
Discover London Trails
LondonMICE
Morris Visitor Publications (MVP)
South Bank Employers' Group
Marketing / PR Campaign of the Year Award sponsored by London Calling
The Berkeley
The Dorchester
Madame Tussauds
National Portrait Gallery
New Wimbledon Theatre
Radisson Edwardian Hotels
Southbank Centre
Tate Modern
ZSL London Zoo
Outstanding Customer Service Award
Brown's Hotel
City Inn Westminster
EC&O Venues
The Guoman Tower Hotel
London Marriott West India Quay