After fighting off fierce competition, multi award-winning Cofton Holidays, based near Dawlish Warren, has been awarded Gold in the Holiday Park and Village of the Year category at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2018/19.
The family-run business scooped the prestigious accolade at the South West Tourism Awards’ glittering ceremony in Bristol – the region’s tourism awards ‘grand final’.
Now in its ninth year, the South West Tourism Excellence Awards saw a record 651 entries across 27 different categories. Finalists were selected from across the region, which covers the Isles of Scilly, Wiltshire, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. Cofton Holidays were up against The Park, Cornwall, Rockley Park, Dorset, and Lady’s Mile Holiday Park, Devon.
Winning the award is the cherry on top of the cake for the South Devon holiday park having secured a string of accolades in recent months. In addition to winning Gold Holiday Park of the Year and Silver Responsible, Ethical and Sustainable Tourism awards at the Visit Devon Awards 2018, Cofton was named as a finalist in the Hoseasons 2018 Diamond Awards for Family Run Lodges and Parks. In November it achieved Silver Dog Friendly Business of the Year; Bronze Social Responsibility and Sustainable Tourism; Bronze Tourism Event or Festival of the Year, and Bronze Serviced Accommodation of the Year awards at the 2018 Herald Express South Devon Tourism and Hospitality Awards.
Having received gold at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards for the first time, Helen Scott, Director of Cofton Holidays, commented:
“We are all over the moon to win Gold in the Holiday Park of the Year category at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards, bettering our Silver in 2014. Gold is an absolute triumph and is testament to the hard work our team invests in the business.
“It’s a great honour to win this award for Devon. We’re proud of our roots and this is reflected in everything we do from the quality of our customer service to our focus on local produce in our café, pub and restaurant. We also work closely with local businesses to offer our customers an even richer experience, encouraging them to return to South Devon year after year, generation after generation.
“As a family business that’s been running for over 40 years, we know how important it is to create a customer experience that guests want to share. That’s why we’re constantly investing in our facilities, accommodation and experiences, such as our Woodland Adventure area, our re-vamped luxury Georgian apartments within Eastdon House, and our gym and exercise facilities in the main complex. Combined with regular events such as our American Car weekend in early July, which was awarded Silver this year at the 2018 Herald Express South Devon Tourism and Hospitality Awards, we’re always looking for new reasons for people to visit.”
Helen added: “We know that if we do a great job, we’re in a strong place to continue playing our part in the local economy, supporting local business, raising funds for local causes, and putting on events that embrace the local community.
“Through the passion of our team, investment in our facilities and services, and the desire to go the extra mile, we continue to fly the flag for Devon and our region.”
Robin Barker of Services for Tourism commented: “I’d like to commend Cofton for its vision, investment, hard work and excellence.”
Cofton’s facilities include a heated indoor pool with a splash pad area and hydrotherapy loungers, a gym, restaurant, pub, steam room, sauna, fitness studio, soft play area, playground, sports wall, outdoor pools and much more. Guests also have access to five coarse fishing lakes, miles of cycle paths and nature trails that take visitors through woodland to the golden sands of Dawlish Warren beach and nature reserve.
Free kids’ clubs take place each day throughout the school holidays, from Easter through to the October half term. Other free activities on site include the new £50,000 Woodland Adventure Area which features a 25m zip line, a climbing cage, rope ladders, balance beam, balance lines and scramble nets.
For more information on Cofton Holidays visit: www.coftonholidays.co.uk or call 01626 890111.
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