Beaulieu is celebrating winning the top gold accolade for its 50th International Autojumble in Tourism South East’s Beautiful South Awards, marking this landmark event as the best example of excellence in tourism.
International Autojumble celebrated its half century last year with a special gold-themed event, making the top accolade in the Tourism Event/ Festival of the Year category particularly apt. At the Beautiful South Tourism Awards ceremony at The Grand in Brighton on November 29th, the highly-prized trophy was presented to Beaulieu Events Manager Judith Maddox and Commercial Director Steve Munn by radio presenter Toby Anstis, Tourism South East Chairman Mark Smith and Tourist Network’s Leah Robinson.
Beaulieu Events Manager Judith Maddox said: “We are thrilled to have won this very special gold award for our gold-themed 50th International Autojumble, in the face of stiff competition. As our longest-running and best-loved event, the autojumble is close to the hearts of thousands of motoring enthusiasts across the world who make their annual pilgrimage to Beaulieu to take part.”
Beaulieu Commercial Director Stephen Munn said: “Winning such a prestigious award is a perfect way to mark 50 years of this very special event. We are proud that the affection with which International Autojumble is regarded, and the boost that it gives to the New Forest economy, is being recognised and celebrated.”
The International Autojumble, which is held in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, is the largest autojumble this side of the Atlantic and attracts visitors from across Europe and beyond. More than 36,000 visitors turned out for last year’s landmark event to scour the 2,378 stands which are crammed with motoring treasures and elusive spare parts for restoration projects and to keep classic cars on the road. The event created a local economic benefit of £3m to the New Forest and surrounding area.
The 2016 anniversary event invited exhibitors to join in with a special gold theme and a trophy was awarded to the best gold stand, which was topped with a ‘birthday cake’ which could be seen across the Beaulieu events fields. A special display of vehicles showed what can be achieved with parts bought at the autojumble and loyal exhibitors and visitors recorded five decades of memories in a commemorative booklet.
The Beautiful South Awards are the most coveted accolades for the tourism industry in the region. The awards celebrate the very best for all types of tourism businesses including B&Bs, hotels, holiday parks and visitor attractions, as well as recognising businesses that have gone the extra mile with regards to accessibility, sustainability and great customer service. The award judges have taken many factors into account, including visitor feedback, reviews, online coverage and value for money.
Nell Barrington, of the Beautiful South Awards, said: “The Beautiful South Awards, sponsored by The Grand Brighton, attracted 146 entries so the judges have had a very tough task in identifying the region’s best. Judges were, as always, looking for evidence of excellence.”
Nigel Smith, Chief Executive of Tourism South East, said: “The Beautiful South Awards are the highlight of the year for the South East’s visitor economy. They are a reminder of the amazing wealth of fantastic tourism businesses and experiences South East of England has to offer. This year the overall standard of entries was higher than ever, making it extremely tough for the judges.”
Beaulieu’s 2018 International Autojumble will be held on September 1st and 2nd. For the latest information and full Beaulieu events calendar, click here.
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