Meet our line-up of 10 fantastic finalists for the 2022 Tourism Superstar award. This coveted accolade is your chance to choose a staycation hero as we celebrate workers who go the extra mile to ensure a memorable holiday or day trip for visitors – and all during the pandemic.
The award was launched by Mirror Travel and national tourist board VisitEngland 10 years ago (it was suspended last year because of Covid), and local tourist boards across England submitted hundreds of nominations.
Our panel of judges then whittled them down to a shortlist of 10 for a public vote and you can read about them here.
How to vote
Simply watch the video above - or check out the finalists' profiles below - and cast your vote for your holiday hero on the form below. Take note - you can only vote once!
The ballot closes at midnight on March 22 and our winner will be announced at the end of English Tourism Week on March 26.
For vote updates and the current leaders, look on Twitter for @ TravelEdNigel, @ MirrorTravel, @ VisitEngland and @ VisitEnglandBiz.
*** VOTING HAS NOW CLOSED ***
Meet the 10 finalists
Ahmed Abdelaziz, Hirer/General Assistant, Windermere Lake Cruises, Cumbria
NOMINATION: After moving to the UK from Egypt where he was a scuba instructor, Ahmed worked in London hospitality before moving to the Lake District and finding his forever home.
He is passionate about people, understanding the importance of delivering a unique experience to each customer – in multiple languages.
He is enthusiastic and worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to ensure he was protecting passengers and staff and adhering to the firm’s Covid-secure procedures.
Ahmed is mentioned more than any other staff member on Tripadvisor and Google, with customers even turning up to meet him after reading wonderful reviews.
Blenheim Palace Cleaning Team Oxfordshire – Sonia Serna, Alison Darke, Ewelina Krawiecka, Nell Clarke, Charlotte White, Dorota Tarasek
NOMINATION: One of the key parts of a tourist attraction is the customer service team. Within that there is a smaller team that normally does not get many mentions. We are talking about the cleaning team.
Cleansing and disinfecting became a huge part of the reason Blenheim Palace was able to open its doors between lockdowns, and the team made sure guests felt safe and happy to return.
After the first lockdown, a constant disinfectant rotation was put in place, on top of their daily general tasks. Every hard surface, touch point, facility, door handle was cleaned with no more than 30 minutes between service.
Importantly, the cleaning team was adapted from two different teams to forge their skills and deliver as one. They took the challenge and managed to form the best cleaning team Blenheim has ever seen.
Dorian Deathly, Tour Guide, York
NOMINATION: When the pandemic hit, Dorian lost his tour guide job. As a way to keep sane, he began to livestream his night-time ghost story walks around the city on Facebook.
It soon became clear that people were enjoying this distraction from Covid and the free, virtual Ghost Tour of Haunted York became a regular occurrence.
These tours gave people a moment of distraction, the chance to reconnect with friends and families and attracted a large number of fans – more than 10,000 on Facebook alone.
This success meant that in August 2020 Dorian was able to launch his own real-life walking tour – with reduced capacity of 50 to ensure public safety – which now runs four nights a week.
George Finlay, Farm Supervisor, Matlock Farm Park, Derbyshire
NOMINATION: George goes above and beyond his role to ensure all visitors have the best experience possible.
With his beaming smile and approachable manner, he gives a warm welcome and ensures they enjoy a memorable day.
He also reaches out to the public on social media to attract and maintain interest in the site.
When it was closed during Covid, George was the driving force behind the creation of weekly Facebook Live broadcasts to provide virtual, interactive experiences.
Regularly reaching 1,000 views, the videos played an important role in providing uplifting content and boosting the park’s recovery when it was able to reopen.
George also takes on the heavy work such as mucking out the largest animals and collecting hay bales.
Mike James Director, Savouring Bath, Somerset
NOMINATION: Mike has expanded artisan food tours of Bath to offer three itineraries as well as bespoke events such as a collaboration with the Royal Crescent Hotel for cheese and wine tastings.
When the pandemic hit, Mike immediately refunded cancelled bookings, then looked to see how he could support local producers and suppliers.
He responded to a bakery’s appeal to deliver bread to customers who were isolating and volunteered to pack treats at a chocolatier and help at a cheese shop.
When the Savouring Bath tours restarted in May 2021 they were a great success and by the end of the year he had doubled the booking levels from pre-Covid times.
As well as championing local artisans, Mike is a huge advocate for the city of Bath.
London Walks Guide team – Fiona Lukas, Russell Nash, Karen Pierce Goulding, Adam Scott, Simon Whitehouse
NOMINATION: If you want to crystallise London’s response to the challenges visited upon it over its long history, you can’t do better than the word Resurgam (Google: “Christopher Wren and Resurgam”).
There’s a Resurgam halo around this team. They lost their livelihoods overnight as it was impossible to be a tour guide in lockdown. Whereupon they did the impossible – creating 300 virtual tours of the city, with each series running between eight and 10 episodes. They took London to communities all over the world, from Mexico and Israel to Australia and Germany.
Post-lockdown, they have created 30 new pavement tours to add to the 500 already in the London Walks collection.
With guides of this calibre it’s like having Judi Dench and Ian McKellen in the starring roles. You just let them get on with it.
Peta and Andy Nugent, managers, YHA Boggle Hole, near Whitby, North Yorkshire
NOMINATION: The inspirational characters behind one of the best-loved youth hostels in the country have managed it for more than 20 years and are renowned for their warm welcome and humour.
Despite Covid restrictions, magical memories have continued to be made at Boggle Hole and guests regularly praise the friendliness of the place as well as its quirky decor.
There is no TV and there are only patchy mobile signals. Instead, the hostel is full of furniture, artwork and quirky, fun items created by Andy from driftwood, pebbles and old ropes and nets found on the beach.
The pair are both keen to point out that they are ‘’nothing’’ without their 13 members of staff, saying: “We are just one crazy, big family.”
Ocean Discovery Rangers, National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth - Curtis England, Emily Angell, Ethan Cooke, Jenny Parkins, Matthew Norton, Nick Helm, Safa Saeed, Shion Reynell
NOMINATION: The NMA’s rangers were a key team during the pandemic, ensuring the Ocean Engagement Programme continued throughout.
They delivered virtual tours so families connected, kids had birthday parties and people looked behind the scenes. These tours reached a global audience.
The team created a schedule of Facebook Lives, behind-the-scenes videos, relaxation films, toddler craft sessions, live lessons and birthday shout-outs.
Besides reaching 15 million people, they dealt with lockdown measures, and once they were lifted, got the NMA programme back to its full potential.
Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, Chief Executive, Twycross Zoo, Leicestershire
NOMINATION: The county was one of the hardest-hit areas at the height of the pandemic, putting extra pressure on local businesses. Sharon showed tremendous resilience, maintaining an outdoor destination for many with very little government support.
She was instrumental in securing £450,000 in public donations, which helped Twycross care for its animals and secured the future of the zoo.
Sharon provided support and leadership to local businesses and hosted weekly video calls with a large charity zoo group for peer support. And she lobbied MPs over the UK animal welfare crisis, boosting the sector’s profile and highlighting its economic value.
Liam Upton, Assistant General Manager, Norfolk Mead Hotel, Coltishall, Norfolk
NOMINATION: While the whole hotel team have gone above and beyond throughout the pandemic, Liam has impressed the most.
Every weekend throughout lockdown, he served takeaway afternoon teas all around Norfolk, even after having to be towed out of the snow. Since re-opening, he has been understanding of personal situations, allowing guests to rebook when convenient.
And when a wedding car failed to show up to collect a bride, Liam came to the rescue and chauffeured her to the hotel himself.
With guests booking longer staycations and the menu remaining fairly similar, Liam asks them on their first night if they’d like a special dish preparing before they leave
