AWARD CATEGORIES FOR 2025
There are 20 Categories for the 2025 DMB Tourism Awards
The awards are open to businesses directly involved in tourism, making a contribution to the visitor economy with a significant proportion of business generated by people visiting from outside the local area.
Applications should cover the operating period from July 2024 to July 2025. Minimum operating period is 12 months. ​
APPLICATIONS FOR 2025
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Application/Nomination​ deadline closed on Tuesday, 1st July 2025 at 23:59
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Businesses are also encouraged to enter the Dorset Tourism Awards, which have a huge range of categories and importantly offer the chance for onward nomination to the national VisitEngland awards – the entry deadline for this is in June 2025 TBA.
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Please scroll down for information on the different categories & their sponsors
INDEPENDENT LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
This award recognises full-service independent (unbranded) hotels providing truly memorable guest experiences and demonstrating excellence across every aspect of the business, including the provision of extensive facilities.
Businesses will normally offer a minimum of 35 bedrooms. However, a business with fewer than 35 bedrooms can
apply if it is a full-service hotel with extensive facilities.
BRANDED LARGE
HOTEL OF THE YEAR
This award recognises full-service branded hotels providing truly memorable guest experiences and demonstrating excellence across every aspect of the business, including the provision of extensive facilities.
Businesses will normally offer a minimum of 35 bedrooms. However, a business with fewer than 35 bedrooms can
apply if it is a full-service hotel with extensive facilities.
SMALL HOTEL
OF THE YEAR
This award recognises small, serviced accommodation businesses, including bed and breakfast and guest house businesses, providing truly memorable guest experiences and demonstrating excellence across every aspect of the business.
(Normally offering less than 35 bedrooms)
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
SELF CATERING AWARD
This category recognises self-catering accommodation businesses, including cottages, houses, historic properties (or part thereof), holiday boats, barn conversions, hostels, apartments and serviced apartments. Also included are holiday parks and villages that may provide a mix of caravan holiday homes, lodges, chalets and touring and camping pitches that provide leisure facilities and food and drink outlets. All businesses must provide truly memorable guest experiences, demonstrating excellence across every aspect of the business.
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PLEASE NOTE A business with multiple properties across different locations is not eligible to apply in its entirety. This includes agencies. However, an application may be completed for a specific location (on a single site) if it is clearly identified within any marketing e.g. website
INDUSTRY LEADER
** NEW FOR 2025 **
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
ATTRACTION
OF THE YEAR
This award recognises visitor attraction businesses providing truly memorable visitor experiences and demonstrating
excellence across every aspect of the business.
RESPONSIBLE, ETHICAL & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
This award recognises tourism businesses committed to
being sustainable, responsible and ethical in how they
operate and interact with customers, the wider
community and the environment.
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
CONTRIBUTION TO BCP TOURISM AWARD
This award is for an individual, group or organisation
that has made a significant contribution to Tourism
across Bournemouth, Christchurch or Poole.
BAR PERSON
OF THE YEAR
** NEW FOR 2025 **
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
NIGHT LIFE
EXPERIENCE AWARD
This award recognises bars and nightclubs that can demonstrate that they have that magic combination that you ‘can’t quite put your finger on’ but which keeps the customer coming back time after time, encouraging visitors to keep returning to the destination and supporting the tourism economy. Businesses would typically be open between 5pm - 3am and will need to demonstrate a warm welcome, attention to safety and wellbeing, a clean and well-presented interior, and a good choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Additional plus points could be scored for cocktails, flaring, mixology, and additional wellbeing features such as ‘Ask for Angela’ or promotions to reduce harm
EATING OUT EXPERIENCE
AWARD
Businesses that offer a more casual dining experience with excellence throughout their service such as bistro, pizza restaurant casual, fish and chip restaurants, grills etc.
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
CAFÉ/TEAROOM AWARD
This award recognises café/tearoom businesses
within the tourism industry that offer food, beverage
and service innovation and excellence.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
This award will celebrate the achievements of teams who have been able to adapt and work effectively under the challenges posed during the last 18 months.
The award is open to both applications and nominations and must demonstrate that the team has contributed something special and unique to tourism in the BCP area, showing commitment, passion and enthusiasm for their work and exceeding the expectations of those around them.
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
RESTAURANT
OF THE YEAR
Restaurants that offer outstanding cuisine,
and excellence throughout their operation.
INDUSTRY SUPPORT AWARD
This award is open to companies and organisations that can demonstrate their support and commitment to the Tourism industry and businesses over the last 18 months.
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
EVENT OF THE YEAR
AWARD
This award recognises providers of truly memorable and immersive tourism events. Events should make a contribution to the visitor economy with a significant proportion of business generated by people visiting from outside the local area. Online events are welcome to enter as long as they are able to demonstrate a contribution to the local economy.
WEDDING VENUE
OF THE YEAR
** NEW FOR 2025 **
This award recognises providers of truly memorable and immersive tourism events. Events should make a contribution to the visitor economy with a significant proportion of business generated by people visiting from outside the local area. Online events are welcome to enter as long as they are able to demonstrate a contribution to the local economy.
SPONSORSHIP FOR 2025 CATEGORIES ARE NOW OPEN!
Want to sponsor a category?...
email info@dmb-tourismawards.co.uk
CUSTOMER SERVICE
AWARD
RISING STAR AWARD
This award recognises an individual, who has excelled
in their role and deserves to be applauded for
their work and commitment to the tourism industry.​
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(nomination only)