A MUSEUM’S tribute to an historic locomotive that drew crowds from far and wide is on track for an award.
The Great Goodbye at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon has been shortlisted in the North East England Tourism Awards’ tourism event of the year category.
More than 120,000 people visited the Great Goodbye during its nine-day run in April.
The event featured six A4 class locos – Mallard, Bittern, Union of South Africa, Dominion of Canada, Dwight D Eisenhower and Sir Nigel Gresley – which were brought together to conclude the 75th anniversary celebrations of Mallard becoming the world’s fastest steam engine.
The awards are billed as the region’s tourism Oscars.
Organisers received 85 entries, with 52 making the shortlist.
Other shortlisted entries include Beamish Museum, which is competing in the large attraction of the year category and Hall Hill Farm, Lanchester, which is up for a tourism experience award.
Sarah Stewart, chief executive of NewcastleGateshead Initiative, which organises the awards on behalf of the Northern Tourism Alliance, said the tourism industry was an important part of the North-East economy, employing more than 55,000 people with an additional 500 jobs created over the last 12 months.
She added: “This year we have seen a fantastic range of applications spanning the whole of North East England, from Berwick in the north to Guisborough in the south.
“The North East England Tourism Awards are an important platform, recognising the quality and innovation that ensures our tourism offer remains one of the strongest in the country – congratulations to all those shortlisted and good luck.”
Judges have visited all of the shortlisted businesses to determine who should take gold in the 15 categories.
Silver, bronze and highly commended accolades will also be announced at a celebration of the tourism industry’s success on November 11 at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
Winners at the regional awards will have the opportunity to compete nationally at VisitEngland’s Excellence Awards 2015.
The Shortlist
Access for All Tourism Award
Discovery Museum, Newcastle
Calvert Trust, Kielder
Sage Gateshead
Bed Breakfast / Guest Accommodation of the Year Award
Martineau Guest House, Whitley Bay
Northumbria University, Newcastle
Business Tourism Award
Event Durham, Durham University
Sodexo Prestige / Newcastle United
Caravan Holiday Park / Holiday Village of the Year Award
Ord House Country Park, Berwick upon Tweed
Golden Sands Holiday Park, Creswell
Seafield Caravan Park, Seahouses
Northumbrian Water / Leaplish Waterside Park, Kielder
Large Hotel of the Year Award
Jurys Inn, Newcastle
Matfen Hall Hotel, Northumberland
Newcastle Marriott Gosforth Park Hotel
Macdonald Gisborough Hall Hotel
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award
National Glass Centre, Sunderland
Beamish, the living museum of the north
Sage Gateshead
International Centre for Life, Newcastle
Self Catering Provider of the Year Award
Rennington Cottages, Rennington
Springhill Farm, Seahouses
Calvert Trust, Kielder
Herding Hill Farm, Haltwhistle
Taste of England Award
Zeera, South Shields
Northumberland Cheese Co. Ltd
Carriages Tea Room, Bellingham
Knitsley Farm Shop, Consett
Tourism Event of the Year Award
Locomotion, The National Railway Museum at Shildon / Mallard 75 – The Great Goodbye
South Tyneside Council Events Team – South Tyneside Summer Festival
Northumbrian Water – Kielder Winter Wonderland
Tourism Experience of the Year Award
Iles Tours, Newcastle
Hall Hill Farm, Lanchester
Lane7, Newcastle
The Cycle Hub, Newcastle
Tourism Pub of the Year Award
The Bridge Tavern, Newcastle
The Staith House, North Shields
South Causey Inn, Stanley
Visitor Information Provider of the Year Award
Durham Visitor Information Network
NewcastleGateshead Visitor Information Centre
Northumberland National Park Centre, Once Brewed
Small Hotel of the Year Award
Langley Castle Hotel, Hexham
Seaham Hall, Durham
Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa
Sustainable Tourism Award
St Cuthbert’s House, Seahouses
Durham University
Sage Gateshead
Northumberland National Park Centre, Once Brewed
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year Award
Ouseburn Trust – Victoria Tunnel
WWT Washington Wetland Centre
Kielder Observatory
The Cycle Hub, Newcastle