On Thursday 4 March, Copthorne Hotel London Gatwick and Copthorne Hotel Effingham Park both received an award at the region’s most prestigious business event, the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2010. The Gatwick Diamond Awards celebrates the best of businesses and people who have shown innovation and inspiration in their work, and have demonstrated a real commitment to the sub-region.

The award in the category of “Commitment to Developing People and Skills” recognises commitment to the development of staff at the heart of the organisation, and recognises that developing people in business will drive business forward.

Judging the entry, Russell Strutt, Principle of Central Sussex College, commented that the Copthorne Hotels “manage to wholly engage its workforce to achieve its business objectives through a comprehensive review process, a commitment to personal development and incentivised recognised programmes. Peer training champions in each of its departments help to drive and deliver development and training linked to organisational objectives, with targets translated into meaningful milestones for staff at every level. In an industry renowned for transient employment, this company has a stable staff with an amazing 43% of them in a post to which they have been promoted, proving that talent identification and development really works.”

Heinz Skalnik, General Manager at both hotels, commented: “We are incredibly honoured to receive this prestigious award which demonstrates that effective staff development can have a dramatic impact on the performance of a business, and this is fundamental to supporting our success at the Copthorne Hotels.”

Enjoy an Easter with a difference and a great Pine Sunday too, by helping one of the Lake District’s most colourful characters – Sammy the Squirrel – hunt for the treasured pine cones that he hid before going into hibernation!

Sammy – mascot of iconic Lake District cruise company, Ullswater ‘Steamers’ – hid a stash of pine cones in various locations around his favourite lake before the hard, long winter set in. The hungry red squirrel is now eager to find them again, but needs the help of children and their families.

Anyone travelling with Ullswater ‘Steamers’ between April 3 and 20 can help locate a pine cone, and win a prize, by finding the clues on wildlife cards hidden in the ‘Steamers’ Lake Guides. They can then head to the online competition page at www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk to enter their answer and potentially win one of 50 prizes.

Ullswater ‘Steamers’, in conjunction with the Lake District conservation and nature project, Flora of the Fells, will also be running a real treasure hunt around Ullswater on April 15.

Prizes will be available on the day to those heading to the Ullswater ‘Steamers’ pier at Glenridding and signing up for the treasure hunt, by paying a £1 donation to conservation in the Lake District. Each entrant who returns a ticket with one of the hidden pine cones will win a prize, with up to 40 prizes available.

Both fun treasure hunts will enable visitors to learn more about local wildlife, as the wildlife cards highlight some of the characteristics of Red Squirrels, Holly Blue butterflies, Oyster Catchers, Nut Hatches and the Marsh Marigold.

Ullswater ‘Steamers’ cruises will be operating as usual throughout Easter, providing an idyllic cruise in some of Britain’s most stunning scenery. A return trip cruise lasting 70-minutes, from either Glenridding at the foot of the lake, or Pooley Bridge at its top, to Howtown costs £9.00 for an adult, £4.50 for a child, or £24.00 for a family.

A family ticket covers two adults and up to three children (aged 5-15) or one adult and three children. Under 5s travel free.

To find out how to make your Easter revolve around pine cones rather than eggs, visit www.ullswater-steamers.co.uk or call 01768 82229.

Tourism businesses in North East England are being encouraged to go green to claim a bigger share of the North East’s £4bn tourism industry.

The region’s tourism agencies are keen to encourage rural businesses to explore the benefits of eco-friendly practices and become more appealing to environmentally aware holidaymakers.

A conference – Pure Profit 2010 – is being held in Durham City on March 18 to showcase how going green can make businesses more profitable, sustainable and marketable. The conference is delivered by tourism agency Visit County Durham on behalf of One North East and is sponsored by Natural England.

Janet Cummings, business performance coordinator at One North East, said: “More and more consumers are now environmentally aware and looking to reduce their carbon footprint whenever possible, even on holiday, leading many to choose domestic short breaks instead of overseas trips.

As this tourism trend grows it’s vital for North East England to be known nationally as a place that offers a high quality, ethical and green experience for visitors.”

Pure Profit 2010 is being held at the Rivergreen Centre, Aykley Heads, Durham, a multi award winning green business centre, and features speakers from the worlds of tourism, environmental research and sustainable business practices. Full details of the speakers in Notes to Editors.

Tourism is the UK’s fifth biggest industry, worth £4bn to the region’s economy per year and sustains over 60,000 jobs. Several North East tourism businesses are already benefiting from being green.

In 2009, North East accommodation businesses who were members of the Green Tourism Business Scheme recorded occupancy rates 19 per cent higher than non accredited businesses.

A recent pan European survey by electrical goods manufacturer Samsung found that a third of consumers would opt for an ‘eco-friendly’ hotel, demonstrating that green credentials have a major impact in influencing the decisions of holidaymakers.

Haven Holiday parks all around the UK are preparing to start the new season on March 19th by unveiling the results of a £40million winter investment programme.

Holidaymakers booking an early season break will be amongst the first to try out the new facilities at Haven’s 35 parks. New attractions range from Adventure Golf courses, new sports and play areas, improvements to venues and ShowBars, upgraded accommodation and, best of all, two fabulous Space Bowls giving guests the ultimate ‘Wow’ factor at Combe Haven near Hastings and Marton Mere at Blackpool!

Swimmers using the Space Bowls can expect a high speed ride down the flumes before spinning around the bowl and dropping into the pool. Great fun but not for the faint-hearted!

Haven say, ‘We’ve invested £40 million in our parks to ensure that families can enjoy even better facilities and some spectacular new innovations. But we’ve made sure our prices have remained affordable to provide the best possible value for money.’

Spring breaks start from as little as £99 for a family of up to six in ‘Superior’ holiday homes on three night breaks from March 19th or four night breaks from March 22nd. The special deal is available at a wide choice of parks including The Orchards near Clacton in Essex, Golden Sands near Mablethorpe, Hafan y Mor in North Wales and Haven’s flagship park, Devon Cliffs near Exmouth.

If you can’t get away until the Easter holidays Combe Haven is offering breaks from April 9th at £179 for a family of six and Marton Mere is offering Bank Holiday Breaks, arriving 2nd April from £299 – both prices based on ‘Superior’ bedroom holiday homes.

For bookings and more info call 0871 230 1900 or click on www.haven.com

A whole host of Easter events are taking place across The National Forest.

In the Easter Holidays there will be two Wildlife Watch drop-in sessions for families at Rosliston Forestry Centre. Between 2-4pm on Tuesday 6 April “Fantastic Frogs” is an opportunity to learn about the life cycle of a frog and make a mobile to take home. The following Tuesday 13 April there will be fun pond dipping to discover what lies beneath the surface of the flight pond. All equipment is provided. Wildlife Watch sessions also take place at the centre every Tuesday afternoon in half term and summer holidays.

Visitors to Rosliston Forestry Centre can embark on an Easter Egg Hunt on Monday 5 April. This kicks off a whole range of holiday fun, including drop-in sessions (2-4pm) to try out the following activities:
• Climbing wall and Bushcraft Day on 7 April
• Laser Combat on 8 April
• Archery on 12 April

Twycross Zoo’s new Visitor Welcome Centre “Himalaya” opens for Easter. This world-class building is a landmark for the East Midlands Region and a visitor attraction in itself. Enjoy a meal in the restaurant with views overlooking the Himalayan landscape themed Snow Leopard enclosure. The new visitor centre will host Himalaya – a Wildlife and Wilderness Watercolour Artist Exhibition from Friday 2 to Tuesday 6 April. And from Friday 2 to Monday 5 April the zoo will have its ‘Going Ape’ exhibition with activities and information on apes. Visitors will also be invited to join in the Easter Bunny Zoo Trail.

Conkers has a fortnight of family fun from Friday 2 to Sunday 18 April with Easter Egg orienteering hunts, ranger tours and lots more. Nick Spellman, the animal man, is back as are the dream ponies and circus workshops. For more information visit the website www.visitconkers.com Based upon life in a British woodland and with more than one hundred indoor and outdoor activities themed around Forest life and the environment, families enjoy hours of fun at Conkers.

Easter is a fantastic time to visit Calke Abbey as it is lambing time. Visitors can see the young lambs close up and meet the wardens as they care for the flock. Children will love the Easter Trail, sponsored by Cadbury’s, running from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 April (11:30am–3.30pm), which leads to an Easter prize.

Swadlincote Ski and Snowboard Centre has Kids Easter Fun Activity Days from Friday 2 to Friday 16 April (11am-5pm). These include skiing or snowboard lessons, tobogganing, Sno-Tubing, lunch, certificate and badge for just £25.50. Pre-booking is essential for these popular sessions.

The centre will also be hosting an Easter Extravaganza from Friday 2 to Monday 5 April where visitors can have a half hour ski or snowboard taster lesson for just £5, toboggan for just £1 per ride, Sno-Tubing for £2 per 15 minute session or ski or snowboard open practice just £5 per hour. Other events include a family quiz night on Thursday 15 April with fantastic ski centre prizes. There will then be a Freestyle Competition on Saturday 24 April with skiers and boarders welcome and excellent live bands.

As well as these special Easter activities, The National Forest contains a wealth of things to do and see throughout the whole year. For more information on attractions, activities, events and places to stay in and around The National Forest, the 2010 visitor guides to the Forest and Beyond are bursting with great ideas. These are available from Tourist Information Centres or from the National Forest Company.

The National Forest spans more than 200 square miles across parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire and is one of England’s most ambitious environmental projects – to create a new Forest for the nation. Already more than seven and a half million trees have been planted in The National Forest, which offers more than 700 miles of paths to explore in over 400 woodlands. The gentle undulating landscape is perfect for walking, cycling and horse-riding. And through the creation of new habitats, The National Forest is an ideal location for bird and wildlife watching.

Festival fever creates May-hem in brighton

Britain’s favourite city-by-the-sea has staked its claim as the UK’s number one festival destination. This coming May brighton & Hove is gearing up for the greatest event line-up it has seen.

With a cornucopia of culture, comedy and creativity, brighton & Hove plays host to 100 yachts, 300 concerts, 1,000 caped crusaders, 1,000 artists, 1,200 live performances and 2,500 Minis.

“This year marks yet another landmark for our burgeoning festival scene.” David Smith, Councillor for Culture, Recreation & Tourism at brighton & Hove City Council. “The sheer volume and range of events on offer is set to eclipse all that has gone before, making brighton & Hove the only place to be in May.”

May in a snapshot:

brighton Festival, 1 – 23 May 2010
Legendary musician and producer Brian Eno Guest curates this year’s festival. Featuring a three week, action packed schedule including 175 live events, ranging from art installations to premieres, exclusive performances and free outdoor activities.
For more information visit www.brightonfestival.org or log on to www.visitbrighton.com.

brighton Festival Fringe 1 – 23 May 2010
With this year’s outdoor events running on solar power, England’s largest open access arts festival returns with over 700 events, showcasing the UK’s finest established and undiscovered acts. This year’s festival kicks off with a range of free outdoor performances over the May Day bank holiday weekend.
For more information visit www.brightonfestivalfringe.org.uk or log on to www.visitbrighton.com.

Artists Open Houses, every weekend in May 2010
The first weekend of May welcomes the arrival of Artists Open Houses. More than 1,000 local artists will throw open their doors to the general public, exhibiting work from the comfort of their own home.
For information visit www.aoh.org.uk or log on to www.visitbrighton.com.

The Great Escape Festival, 13-15 May 2010
Experience three days of pure musical heaven, as the UK’s most eclectic mix of live music gets underway. With 350 new, local and international artists playing at 30 of the city’s most exclusive venues.
For information visit www.escapegreat.com or log on to www.visitbrighton.com.

Superheroes Run, 16 May 2010
With a world record at stake, for the most superheroes in one place at the same time, the 1,000 caped crusaders pit their wits against each other with a race along the famous seafront.
For information visit www.heroesrun.org.uk or log on to www.visitbrighton.com.

London to brighton Mini Run, 16 May 2010
The 25th anniversary of the London to brighton Mini Run will see 2,500 Minis make the 55 mile pilgrimage from London’s Crystal Palace Park to Madeira Drive on brighton’s seafront.
For information visit www.london-to-brighton.co.uk or log on to www.visitbrighton.com.

Royal Escape Race, 28 May 2010
As the largest offshore race on the South Coast, outside of the Solent, 100 monohull yachts head out on the high sea for the 67 mile race from brighton’s Palace Pier to Fécamp on France’s Normandy coast.
For information visit www.royalescaperace.co.uk or log on to www.visitbrighton.com.

For information on events in brighton throughout May, contact Carl Steer at Rooster PR or log on to www.visitbrighton.com.

Aldeburgh has a new chic two bedroom period self catering cottage, Sandpiper Cottage: www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk/sandpiper.asp. It’s a stylish retreat for couples or small families, ideally located in central Aldeburgh just a hop, skip, and a jump from the beach, shops and excellent restaurants.

Sandpiper Cottage has been through an exacting period renovation – fire places have been uncovered, beautiful panelled walls rediscovered, the walls painted in natural lime-washed paints, sash windows restored, and all finished off with the best of contemporary furniture, art and design!

Adorning the walls are fun works of art made especially for the house from driftwood by local artist Paul Crisp, and the house has free wifi-access for those who need to stay in touch with the rest of the world.

On the ground floor is a living room with a cosy wood-burning stove, a large kitchen with large patio doors leading outside to a small decked area with a table and chairs, a dining room and an outside utility room. Upstairs there are two bedrooms (1 king, 1 twin), each with it’s own bath or shower room.

Best of Suffolk specialises in stylish self-catering and has about 100 cottages to choose from. For the full range of Best of Suffolk’s properties visit www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk. For Sandpiper Cottage details and photos visit www.bestofsuffolk.co.uk/sandpiper.asp

WHAT SHALL WE DO TODAY? Helpful Holidays’Free Guide to Things to See and Do in the West Country

West Country cottage specialist, Helpful Holidays, produces a free annual guide for its holidaymakers to help them make the best of their time away. Entitled What shall we do today? it contains discount vouchers and deals for 80 major attractions throughout the South West and is sent to guests before their holidays so they can plan their outings in advance, saving valuable research time and money while on holiday.

This year the booklet features a wonderful variety of places to visit throughout Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset including gardens, historic houses, castles and family adventure parks, as well as wildlife and activity centres. New this year is Extreme West, which is offering a 10% discount on their South West activity gift vouchers – experiences range from Tiger Moth flying to quad biking, sailing and falconry.

Attractions don’t pay for inclusion, but are selected on their willingness to offer a financial incentive to visitors; deals range from discounted entry for one free child with every full-paying adult, or group rates for individual entry.

Helpful Holidays has also included its own top ten suggestions for walks, beaches, places to eat, houses and gardens to visit, children’s attractions and West Country wonders such as the Eden Project, Minack Theatre and Lundy Island.

Other useful pages list farmers’ markets, walking and cycling trails, eateries and a selection of the most interesting events, as well as award-winning beaches for each of the four counties.

For information about Helpful Holidays’ portfolio of over 600 places to stay in the West Country, visit www.helpfulholidays.com or call 01647 434063 for a brochure.

Award winning luxury holiday specialists, Cornish Gems, are launching a new service in April that will showcase some of the most desirable accommodation in Cornwall, with the help of Simon Weston OBE.

Labelled “Cornish Cribs”, the service will be dedicated to managing multimillion pound properties joining their portfolio. With lavish price tags, the properties will rent in the region of £2000 – £8000 per week, making them some of the most exclusive and elite destinations in Cornwall and the UK.

Boasting gadgetry that rivals any Bond film, home cinemas, swimming pools, saunas, gyms and hot tubs with sea views, the Cornish Crib collection will be complemented by a range of guest holiday concierge and lifestyle services including gourmet private catering and helicopter/limo transfers – creating the ultimate holiday experience in the Duchy.

Director of Cornish Gems and Cornish Cribs, Julianne Shelton said, “We are launching Cornish Cribs in response to the highest calibre of properties that are joining our portfolio. Cornish Cribs will combine the very best in exclusive and luxurious accommodation in the county, with a professional and bespoke service, resulting in the ultimate Cornish holiday experience.”

These select few holiday homes of distinction will soon be available to view and book through the dedicated new website www.cornishcribs.com which will be live in March.

With a black tie dinner featuring a charity auction on the 23rd April at the prestigious Carlyon Bay Hotel’s Golf Club, Falkland’s veteran Simon Weston OBE has confirmed that he will be hosting the occasion to celebrate the launch.

Simon Weston, OBE said, “I am pleased to be able to attend this event to celebrate the launch of Cornish Cribs. The way that the Gems team are using this to raise funds for charities is fantastic and I hope that we can raise significant amounts for the charities whilst having a great time on the night. I am looking forward to what is going to be an amazing event and meeting Cornish Gem’s guests.”

Co-director of Cornish Gems and Cornish Cribs Nadia Durrant said, “We are delighted that Simon Weston will be attending our event. We want to give something back to the region, so a charity auction is the perfect way to mark the launch of Cribs. We hope to raise significant funds for Cancer Funding for Cornwall, Mullion Gym and Lizard Lifeboat, as well as national charity Help For Heroes, which has touched many people locally as well as nationally.”

Further information about the dinner and tickets will be available by contacting the Cornish Gems team on 0844 800 2813 or visit www.cornishcribs.com

Top tips for the Cheltenham Festival are promised by the Dormy House Hotel near Broadway in the Cotswolds at an evening in aid of St Richard’s Hospice on Tuesday 9 March, starting at 6.30pm.

Race expert Jim Lewis, owner of Best Mate and patron of St Richard’s will give his top tips for the forthcoming festival alongside trainers Alan King and Richard Phillips and jockey Paddy Brennan.

Tickets for the event cost £25 for a traditional meal of slow braised beef, followed by spiced apple crumble tart, with all proceeds going to the hospice.

The Cheltenham week is the busiest of the year for the Dormy House which sees the hotel running at break horsepower. The hotel remains a firm favourite retreat of commentator John Motson who says: “racing at Cheltenham and early evening at the Dormy House, Broadway, simply the best hotel in the world for me. I like the accent on good old fashioned service. Nothing is too much for the staff”.