TOURISM NEWS

NEWOWNERSHIP

A Lincolnshire businessman who has holidayed with his family in Cornwall for over three decades has purchased the hotel they return to year-in-year-out, Polurrian on the Lizard.

Travel Sector Property Limited (TSPL) has concluded its off-market acquisition of Hotel Polurrian Limited, owner of the freehold interest in Polurrian on the Lizard and its surrounding 12 acres of grounds, inclusive of part of the Polurrian Cove beach.

Andrew Long, principal director of TSPL, said: “We are delighted to have acquired the Polurrian, which has many happy memories for my family and I since first discovering this wonderful location some 32 years ago. We are proud to own this iconic hotel and to further endorse our Cornwall connections.”

This is a going concern transaction and all employees at the Polurrian, including the general manager, Grant Callaghan, will continue to be employed. The new owners have also entered into a management agreement with the vendor group, Luxury Hotel Management Limited under the helm of Nigel Chapman, with a number of plans for further investment in the Polurrian to enhance the existing facilities.

SUMMER BOOKINGS SURGE

With travel restrictions easing and the requirement to test for vaccinated visitors to the UK removed, summer bookings to Cornwall from German visitors are surging, according to destination management company Cornwall DMC.

Although still well below pre-Covid levels, Cornwall DMC director, Niall MacDougall, says reservations for hotels, B&Bs and holiday cottages have for the first time shown strong growth running at approximately 35%-40% of 2019 levels.

“Using exclusive data from our number one ranked German B2C travel website for holidays in Cornwall, it’s the first meaningful rebound in bookings since the start of the pandemic,” said MacDougall.

“Against the backdrop of the expected relaxation of rules across parts of Europe and Scandinavia, consumer confidence for inbound travel to the UK is clearly growing. The removal of the UK from list of ‘countries of concern’ would provide a further impetus to reinforce this trend.” The winners have been revealed for the 2021/22 Cornwall Tourism Awards.

An online event, hosted last month by Daphne Skinnard and Robin Barker, saw 66 awards presented across 22 categories, with four awards held back for a face-toface event next month.

Among the winners, Tregoad Holiday Park was named Holiday Park of the Year, while also taking Silver in the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism category.

Among other winners were Carlyon Bay Hotel which was named Large Hotel of the Year and the Idle Rocks in St Mawes, which scooped double Gold with Small Hotel of the Year and Restaurant of the Year categories.

Owner Karen Richards said: “We are delighted to have been awarded best ‘Restaurant of the Year’ and ‘Small Hotel of the Year’ in this year’s Cornwall Tourism Awards. After bouncing back from what has been an exceptionally difficult couple of years for so many in the hospitality industry, this confirms the passion and efforts our dedicated team has always delivered. Without them, such awards would not have been possible.”

Malcolm Bell, head of Visit Cornwall, added: “After two very challenging years, it is very exciting and also gratifying to see the dedication of the finalists to drive up quality, despite there being a pandemic with all its twists and turns to cope with – a very big well done to all of you.”

Winners in most categories will be automatically considered for the regional South West Tourism Excellence Awards later in the year, with many going on to be nominated to represent the region in the national VisitEngland awards. The 2022/23 awards are planned to be launched in April.

TOURISM AWARDS WINNERS

For a list of all the winners and commended, go to cornwalltourismawards.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL INFLUENCERS & THE LEISURE AND TOURISM INDUSTRY

Amy Ralston, a solicitor at Stephens Scown LLP, advises leisure and tourism businesses to make sure they are compliant with consumer protection law when using influencers…

Amy Ralston specialises in influencer marketing, brand endorsement and the regulation of the same. To discuss any issues raised in this article, please call 01392 210700 or email influencers@stephens-scown.co.uk