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  1. Awards Competition T&Cs
    Competition T&Cs
    Please read the competition T&Cs to check that your business is eligible before submitting an entry.
  2. judging
    Judging
    We commission professionally qualified, independent judges to judge the Staffordshire Tourism Awards competition
  3. 2026 Award Categories & How to Apply
    This year there are 20 categories for all types of tourism & hospitality business, including accommodation, attractions, experiences, pubs, restaurants, cafes and business events venues. Plus cross-sector categories such as Accessibility and Regenerative.
  4. Sponsors
    We are grateful to our sponsors, without whom the Awards would not be possible to run! Find out more about what they can offer your business. If you're interested in sponsoring an award, check out this page too.
  5. faqs
    Frequently Asked Questions
    Check out our competition FAQs page to find out more about and contact us if you have a specific query
  6. Submit Awards Application
    Submit Awards Application
    Applications must be submitted online using the Tourism Awards Application portal (Openwater) before 1st September deadline. Click HERE to go to the portal.
  7. Why apply for awards?
    What benefits your business stands to gain by entering the tourism awards

Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Tourism Awards

Tourism Awards are back for 2026 and the hunt is on to find Staffordshire's best tourism businesses!

Updated 12th June 2025

If you think your business has got what it takes to win, then don't miss the chance to enter the 2026 Visit Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards, supported by University of Staffordshire. 

Celebrating 12 years of Staffordshire Excellence in 2026, our Tourism Awards competition gets bigger and better every year, and now attracts more entries than any other competition in the Midlands! 

We know that you’ve worked harder than ever to bring visitors into the area and give them a great experience, and we believe you should get some recognition for everything you do.

**APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 COMPETITION NOW OPEN** 

KEY DATES

July 2025 Tourism Awards workshops promoApplications open: 16th June 2025

Applicant advice workshops: 2nd July 10:30 and 17th July 14:00

Deadline to submit: 1st September 2025 (Midnight)

Judging period: 1st September - 31st December 2025

Finalist shortlist announced: January 2026

Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony: March 2026

It’s time once again to celebrate our vital tourism and hospitality businesses and thank you for the huge contribution you make to our local economy and putting Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent on the map.

Our competition is one of 20 affiliated to VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026 and the ONLY route to the national stage for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent businesses. 

The competition is open to any tourism, hospitality and leisure business in Staffordshire and is FREE to enter for eligible businesses. 

Please visit the Tourism Awards Terms & Conditions section to find out more about how the competition works.

Other pages you may find useful:

Thank you to all the businesses who took the time to enter the 2025 Staffordshire & Stoke tourism awards and congratulations to all our winners and finalists.

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