Blenheim Palace had double reason to celebrate at this year’s Beautiful South Awards For Excellence.
The Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site won Gold in the International Tourism Award and picked up the top prize as Wedding Venue of the Year.
The ceremony took place at The Grand Brighton and was hosted by travel journalist and broadcaster, Simon Calder.
“We have been working extremely hard over the past year to grow our appeal to international visitors and this award reflects really well on all the hard work undertaken by all the team,” said Blenheim Palace’s Head of Operations, Emily Hirons.
“To have also won gold as a wedding venue, in what is an extremely competitive and discerning market, was particularly pleasing and again speaks volumes for the commitment, enthusiasm and attention to detail of the team,” she added.
The International Tourism Award is for businesses that deliver truly memorable visitor experiences, particularly for international visitors, and demonstrate excellence across every aspect of the business.
The Wedding Venue of the Year is a new award that recognises wedding venues that attract visitors to the region and demonstrate an excellent understanding of the market, exceeding the expectations of their clients.
Judging is carried out by an independent panel of industry leaders and experts in their field, selected for their impartiality, experience and suitability for each category.
“I was blown away by the sheer quality of the tourism businesses and experiences celebrating the trophies,” said Mark Smith, Chairman of Tourism South East.
“Through some incredibly hard work, talent and determination, they have all achieved well-deserved success and will be a great example to others. I am certain that they will inspire other businesses across the UK.
“I am now looking forward to our winners taking on the rest of the country at the VisitEngland National Awards,” he added.