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The BBC Good Food Show voted the best event for groups

The BBC Good Food Show has been voted the Best Event for Groups by readers of Group Leisure magazine. Having seen off competition from Dinosaurs Unleashed, Royal Ascot, Top Gear Live, the popularity of live food events was evident at a special awards ceremony in Birmingham last night.

Active travel organisers from sports & social clubs, retired associations, special interest societies and other groups voted for what they consider the best, with other winners including Virgin Atlantic, Blackpool, London Zoo, New York City and the West End production of War Horse.

Sarah Sandys-Renton, from BBC Good Food Shows commented: “We have been bringing groups to the show for over 20 years and really feel we offer a brilliant day out whatever your group is looking for. The BBC Good Food Show is going to carry on growing and improving as a groups’ day out and it’s a fantastic achievement to be recognised by Group Leisure.”

With an event for all seasons, groups visiting BBC Good Food Shows can enjoy celebrity entertainment, a tasty restaurant offering, and great shopping. Upcoming events include BBC Good Food Show Scotland from the 21st to 23rd October; and BBC Good Food Show Winter from the 23rd to 27th November. Looking forward to 2012, the spring show is scheduled for the 12th to 15th April launching at the new Bluewater Events Venue in Kent; while the summer show will take place from the 13th to 17th June.

The special individual award for a group organiser went to Andrew Booth of the Sainsbury’s Staff Association at Rye Park Depot in Hertfordshire. Andy was presented with £1,500 to use on a familiarisation holiday with the view of organising a similar trip for his work colleagues in the future.

The ceremony, which took place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole was attended by some of the top names in the travel industry and presented by television celebrity Gary Lucy and Group Leisure magazine editor, Rob Yandell.

Other awards saw Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines collect the Best Cruise Line for Groups trophy for the second year running and Westfield London scoop the title of Best Shopping Venue. The Houses of Parliament was voted the Best UK Attraction following the expansion of its popular tour programme.

Group Leisure magazine editor, Rob Yandell commented: “The group travel market is still incredibly strong as friends and colleagues take advantage of special discounts and experiences they wouldn’t normally enjoy travelling as individuals. Our readership of active group travel organisers has a tough job ensuring everything they plan runs smoothly so it is particularly interesting to see who, what and where they think is the best.”

The 2011 categories and winners are as follows:

• Best UK Attraction For Children: ZSL London Zoo
• Best Coach Or Tour Operator - UK Tours: InterChoice Holidays
• Best Rail Operator: Virgin Trains
• Best Ferry Operator: Stena Line
• Best Airline for Groups: Virgin Atlantic
• Best Event for Groups 2010/2011: BBC Good Food Shows
• Best Travel Website for Groups: Merlin Groups – merlingroups.co.uk
• Best Tourist Board: Visit Hull & East Yorkshire
• Best Accommodation for Groups: Best Western Hotels
• Best Shopping Venue: Westfield London
• Best Theatre Production: War Horse
• Best Cruise Line for Groups: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
• Best Ticketing Agency: Group Line
• Best UK Resort: Blackpool
• Best UK City: Liverpool
• Best International Destination: New York City
• The Excellence Award: Richard Woolliss, Encore Tickets
• Best Group Tour Operator – Short Haul: Saga Holidays
• Best Group Tour Operator – Long Haul: Travelsphere
• Best UK Attraction: Houses of Parliament
• Group Travel Organiser of The Year® 2011: Andrew Booth, Sainsbury’s Staff Association

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

● The Group Leisure Awards are voted for by readers of Group Leisure, the UK’s number one monthly magazine for group travel organisers. Votes are also cast at the groupleisure.com website. The current edition of the magazine is always available at www.groupleisure.com/emag in addition to its postal copies.

● The awards were first established in 1997.

● The readers of Group Leisure include group organisers for major sports and social clubs, retired groups, National Trust groups, PROBUS groups, Women’s Institutes, U3A groups,  as well as groups of friends, family and like-minded people, etc.

Further information and images are available on request. Contact Rebekah Tailor, Carrie Martindale or Melissa Cadby on
0870-761 3323 on 21st and 22nd September. After this date telephone 01908-613323 or you can e-mail editorial@groupleisure.com.