...and gold for the Tourist Information Centre team

Plymouth Tourist Information Centre’s team has won gold at the Devon Tourism Awards in the ‘Visitor Information Service of the Year’ category.

The team, led by Visitor Services manager Clare Phillips, won the award for their exceptional standard of service and appropriate information.

The Plymouth Tourist Information Centre is a key part of the Association of Barbican Business, has an excellent rapport with visitors and are an integral to the success of local tourist events.

The team has also been busy with the refurbished Mayflower Museum, which showcases a journey through time with four floors and four centuries to explore.

Plymouth’s Ocean View at The Dome also won gold in the ‘Restaurant of the Year’ and bronze in the ‘New Tourism Business’ categories. The gold award for ‘Unsung Hero’ went to Doug Kerr, Plymouth Volunteer Cruise Ambassador.

Winners in all categories will automatically be ‘fast-tracked’ into corresponding categories of the South West Tourism Excellence Awards on at the Eden Project on March 23.

Clare Philips, Visitor Services manager at the Plymouth Tourism Information Centre said: “It’s amazing to be recognised again for our exceptional standard of service at the Devon Tourism Awards. Its been a busy and exciting year in Plymouth, which the team have embraced with their usual enthusiasm.”

Amanda Lumley, chief executive at Destination Plymouth said: “We are so proud of the team at our TIC here in the Barbican and the great service they provide. Not only do they provide a warm welcome to the city but they are incredibly knowledgeable and give expert advice to the millions of visitors we receive annually. This award is truly well deserved and Clare and her team are to be congratulated”.

The first phase of Connect Plymouth goes live on March 21 and the occasion with be marked with a special launch event between 8am and 6pm at the Piazza in the city centre..

The public will get the chance to find out more information about each component of Connect Plymouth as welll as taking part in a range of fun activities. There will also be the opportunity to view the brand new electric VWID3 which will be part of the car club scheme.

Throughout the day the public will also be able to ride the e-bikes for free when joining one of the short 15 minute guided rides to help show people how to use the e-bikes and get a taster.