Black Country Museum hopes to land tourism award

Winners in 15 categories will be announced on February 26 in the University of Birmingham’s Great Hall.

The Dudley museum is one of three contesting large visitor attraction of the year. It is up against National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Brockencote Hall Hotel at Chaddesley Corbett, near Kidderminster, is a finalist in the small hotel of the year category.

In the self-catering accommodation of the year Shropshir's Ironbridge View Townhouse is a finalist. The Coracle micropub in Ironbridge is contesting pub of the year.

Regional winners will go through to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, which takes place in June.

The awards are supported by the West Midlands Growth Company, which aims to attract visitors and events to the region.

They celebrate the venues that have helped to bring a record 131 million visitors to the area in 2018 – a 2.6 per cent increase on the previous year. The West Midlands’ tourism industry is now worth £12.6 billion and supports more than 135,000 jobs.

Roger Mendonca, chief operating officer of the West Midlands Growth Company, said: "The West Midlands Tourism Awards will shine a spotlight on the venues that have helped make this unique region a destination of choice for national and international visitors, with tourist numbers, spend and hotel occupancy at an all-time high.

"We received a high standard of entry for our awards from more than 75 tourism businesses, and congratulate those venues who have got the nod from industry experts following a very competitive shortlisting process.

"We look forward to recognising the stars of our tourism scene in February and encourage companies to get in touch with us to find out how they can raise their profile by supporting the event.”

The West Midlands is gearing up to welcome more visitors in 2020, with the International Dance Festival Birmingham; Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell gig in Solihull; and Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Europa League campaign among the events set to attract domestic and overseas guests to the region.

For more information about the West Midlands Tourism Awards, including how to buy tickets and find out about sponsorship opportunities, visit http://westmidlandstourismawards.com