We’ve won a prestigious business tourism award!
We’ve done it again! Adding to our award last month for fine dining, we’ve just gained another accolade for our collection – this time for our qualities as a business venue. The Duke won Bronze in the ‘Venue & Business Tourism’ category at the 2017 Devon Tourism Awards in a swish ceremony held last night at Plymouth Guildhall and attended by hundreds of representatives from the world of hospitality.
It’s a significant achievement for us at the Duke, as we faced stiff competition from across the county to be shortlisted in the top three – the only Plymouth business tourism venue to achieve this. The awards were presented in a glitzy ceremony by arctic explorer Ann Daniels, alongside travel writer and broadcaster Simon Calder, who gave a highly amusing speech on his life as a professional holidaymaker, complete with a PowerPoint display!
Duke Director Jonathan Morcom, who accepted the award, paid tribute to the hotel’s dedicated team:
“We’re so proud to receive this as it’s a such a prestigious award where entries are judged rigorously. It’s a credit to the staff who’ve worked so hard to develop the hotel as a corporate venue. We’ve put a lot of investment into both the hotel property and the team.”
Jonathan believes that while the hotel’s business facilities impressed the judges, its community outlook has been important too:
“It’s not just a business – we’re genuinely engaged with Plymouth and in looking to the future of the city, as shown by our involvement with the Mayflower 400 commemorations.”
There were a number of other success stories for the city on the night. We offer huge congratulations to Plymouth Gin, who picked up an impressive trio of awards, including Gold in the coveted ‘Attraction of the Year’ category. Well done also to Plymouth Tourist Information Centre, which took Silver in the ‘Visitor Information Service of the Year’ category. We were also delighted to see a special ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism’ award presented to Esther Pearson of the South West Coast Path team in recognition of their inspiring Discover England project.
We are immensely proud to have been part of this tourism events evening and to celebrate the contributions made by so many passionate people to the region’s tourism industry. Our thanks go to Robin Barker from Services for Tourism, Visit Devon, guest speakers Simon Calder and Ann Daniels, and sponsors Hoseasons for putting on a great show. We’d also like to thank Posh Nosh for laying on a fantastic three-course meal, and the students of Plymouth University for their work in helping set up and supporting the event. The evening was a creditable investment in the future of our tourism trade in the South West.
This recognition of the Duke’s qualities as a business events venue is a testament to the dedication of our brilliant hospitality team, as well as the hotel’s exceptional physical attributes. The variety of spaces available for business hire, ranging from smaller rooms for interviews and meetings to our grand Ballroom, accommodating up to 300 delegates, makes this a highly attractive and versatile place to do business. Top facilities and equipment, fine dining and high-end accommodation complete this offering.
A selection of the Duke of Cornwall's spaces available for business function hire
Above images 1-3: Richard Downer Photography
Samples of the stunning fine dining dishes served in our two-AA-Rosette-awarded Restaurant
Above food images: 1 and 2 – Richard Downer Photography; 2 – Toby Lowe Photography
Examples of the luxury bedrooms and suites available to business delegates staying at the Duke
Above images: 1 – Artography
We’re delighted to gain another honour in a year of award-winning success – and to show off the Duke’s merits as the perfect place for business as well as pleasure.
Thank you to the talented photographers who contributed to this blog. All images of the Devon Tourism Award ceremony were taken by Nick Williams Photographer. We think you’ll agree that they capture the event perfectly!