Women's Cycling Tour among the winners at Tourism and Culture Awards
The Warwickshire Stage of the 2016 Aviva Women's Cycling Tour, staged jointly by Warwickshire County Council and the University of Warwick, was short-listed in the Best Tourism Event/Experience of the Year and received a special Award in recognition for its contribution to Tourism and Culture in the area.
All together the event vividly illustrated the depth of expertise, enterprise and quality underpinning a tourism sector which supports over 18,000 jobs and generates around £1 billion into Warwickshire's economy every year. Along the findings from the tour are
- The event in Warwickshire on 16th June was attended by 75,000 people
- 53% came from outside of Warwickshire
- 14% of the 53% of visitors from outside Warwickshire stayed overnight
- Average spend per day was £38.72
In addition the race saw 96 riders from 22 countries competing and 12 national champions, six Olympic medalists and five World Race Champions.
Warwickshire County Council's portfolio holder for Environment Councillor Jeff Clarke said: "The economic benefits of our supporting the tour were immediate with so many visitors coming to the county. But these benefits will be longer lasting; having showcased the county, we can also expect return visits with so many people seeing what we have to offer in Warwickshire."
Chair of the county council's Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Philip Johnson, said: "What was particularly rewarding was the scope of the tour which covered the whole of the county from north to the south. The economic benefits of visitors were spread throughout, giving a boost to many different businesses."
The excellence and diversity of businesses and organisations powering Warwickshire's tourism industry was recognised at theCoventry & Warwickshire Tourism and Culture Awards with the Warwickshire stage of the Aviva Women's Cycling Tour among those recognised. The awards, hosted by Quidem, along with partners Warwickshire County Council, CWLEP, Coventry City Culture Trust and Shakespeare’s England, rewarded businesses and organisations making an exceptional contribution to the county's vibrant tourism sector.
Warwickshire businesses featured heavily among winners of the 15 categories at the event at the Ricoh Arena. The Hatton Arms, Hatton was judged to be best pub, Cafe Vin Cinq, Rugby was best restaurant and The Arden Hotel, Stratford best hotel. The British Motor Museum took the history and heritage award and Rugby Festival of Culture received the culture award.