Entries open for Visit Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards

The area’s largest celebration of tourism and hospitality, the 2026 Visit Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards competition, is now open for entries!

Hot on the heels of Keele University Events & Conferencing, successfully being crowned England’s Business Events Venue of the Year at the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025 on 4th June, alongside World of Wedgwood who won Silver in the International Tourism Award, the hunt is now on to find the region’s best tourism businesses via the next round of the competition.

Organised by the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), the region’s accredited tourist board, in partnership with VisitEngland and headline sponsor University of Staffordshire, this prestigious competition sees attractions, venues, experiences, accommodation businesses, restaurants, pubs and cafes go head-to-head in 20 categories. Winners will go forward to the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026, giving them the chance to emulate the success of Keele University and World of Wedgwood, as well as previous national competition finalists Gladstone Pottery Museum, the National Memorial Arboretum, Trentham Estate, Duncombe Arms and Alton Towers Resort.

Martin Murray, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills at Staffordshire County Council said: “After our amazing success at the recent VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, where two Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent businesses were recognised, we’re excited to launch our 2026 awards competition which has seen year-on-year growth and is set to be the best yet!

“Not only is it a key business support programme, seeing businesses gain valuable feedback from industry experts and great PR and promotion, but it’s also an opportunity for Staffordshire businesses to recognise the hard work of their teams, and the only way for them to qualify for the national awards.”

Businesses can join a free online workshop on either 2nd or 17th July to find out more about the 2026 competition and get expert advice on how to create winning awards applications by completing a simple Eventbrite registration form.

Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and LVEP Board member said: “These awards are a fantastic way to celebrate the incredible tourist attractions and businesses we have in the city, and the wider county.

“We’ve seen terrific growth in tourism – not least on the back of the incredible programme of events we’ve put on for Stoke-on-Trent’s Centenary this year – and we are determined to build on that.

“The city was recently named one of Time Out’s top places to visit. Accolades like that are largely due to the passionate, committed and imaginative work of all those working in the tourism and hospitality industry. These awards are a great chance to give those people the public recognition they so richly deserve.”

Now in their twelfth year, the Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent awards, recognise and celebrate the outstanding people and businesses which make up the area’s £2.3bn tourism industry.

Martin Tideswell, Director of Commercial Strategy at University of Staffordshire, said: “We are delighted to support the Visit Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Tourism Awards again this year. Staffordshire is a fantastic place to study, work, live and visit. With a rich heritage, beautiful countryside and vibrant culture there really is something for everyone.

“These awards are a brilliant opportunity to celebrate the businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators who continue to put Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent on the map and make our region great.”

The awards are free to enter, and any tourism or hospitality business located in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, can apply. All applications must be submitted online before midnight on Monday 1st September 2025.

Details of all the categories, registration for the webinars / workshops and how to apply are available via Visit Staffordshire’s website.