WESTON has been hailed as one of the country’s best destinations for coach visitors after multiple businesses from the town were nominated for tourism awards.

Weston Mercury: Grand PierGrand Pier (Image: Archant)

Weston-based coach company Bakers Dolphin and The Grand Pier are both up for two National Coach Tourism Awards.

The businesses will be going head-to-head in the Coach Tourism Innovation category where the pier is nominated for its video brochure and Bakers Dolphin for its work with its gold coach scheme.

Bakers Dolphin has also been nominated in the Holiday Programme of the Year category.

Its sales and marketing director, Amanda Harrington (pictured above on the right), said: “The coach tourism industry is getting increasingly sophisticated and to be shortlisted for two awards is a huge honour.”

The gold coach scheme asks customers to pay a little extra for high-end luxury travel and the company is due to launch its fourth gold coach this year.

Ms Harrington said: “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 pier is also up for a second award in the Coach Friendly Visitor Attraction category. Its general manager, Paul Charalambous, said: “We are thrilled to have been shortlisted in two categories.

“Over the past 12 months we’ve worked tirelessly to ensure a seamless customer experience for groups visiting the pier, with group travel packages, discounts and vouchers, as well as meet and greet staff on arrival. We’ve also invested in a bespoke marketing video aimed specifically at coach tour operators.”

Burnham has also been nominated in the Coach Friendly Destination category and Les Barber and Ian Jefferies of Project Coach in Burnham have been nominated in the Coach Tourism Professional of the Year Category.