09/04/2015 - West Country Coach Operators In Line For Awards
Bakers Dolphin shortlisted for two awards
West Country coach operators Bakers Dolphin have been shortlisted for two awards in the National Coach Tourism Awards.
Bakers Dolphin, which has its headquarters in Weston-super-Mare but which operates throughout the South West region, taking people from Bristol right down to Cornwall on holidays and day's out will hear next month at a special event at West Midlands Safari Park whether it has scooped the awards.
Bakers Dolphin has been shortlisted as one of seven finalists in the Coach Tourism Innovation Award for the way it has developed its luxury Gold Coach tours in the last year. It will be up against the Grand Pier of Weston-super-Mare which has been shortlisted for its video brochure.
It has also been shortlisted as one of seven finalists for the Holiday Programme of the Year, which Bakers Dolphin won previously in 2012. The award is presented each year to the company with the most innovative and creative holiday tour programme.
Bakers Dolphin has been shortlisted this year after introducing a second summer brochure, reflecting a trend among the public in the region to book holidays later. It has helped the industry by enabling hotels to sell late availability and boosted coach tourism.
Sales and Marketing Director Amanda Harrington said: "The coach tourism industry is getting increasingly sophisticated and to be shortlisted for two awards is a huge honour. We are proud of the variety of holidays and tours we offer. We try to react to public demand and keep introducing new and exciting packages and tours. The second brochure concept has enabled us to do that.
"We will be introducing our fourth Gold Coach later this year as it has been hugely successful. People in the West Country are prepared to pay a little bit more for the luxury and comfort Gold travel offers and it has been selling well at our shops in Weston-super-Mare and Broadmead, Bristol and over the internet.
"From the industry point of view to reduce passenger numbers from 46 to 32 seats on each coach was a strategy that many thought would be risky. We have shown that customers want quality and comfort from their coach operator."