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All the latest news from the Industry and the Visit County Durham Grapevine newsletter.

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Week-long celebration of England’s tourism industry fast approaching Industry

Week-long celebration of England’s tourism industry fast approaching

11 Mar 2024

English Tourism Week, the annual week dedicated to celebrating England’s tourism industry, is fast approaching with businesses, destinations and visitor attractions encouraged to get involved. Taking place from 15-to-24 March, English Tourism Week sees the industry come together to highlight...

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Durham Cricket aim to bring professional women’s Cricket to the region Industry

Durham Cricket aim to bring professional women’s Cricket to the region

7 Mar 2024

Durham Cricket have today announced their intention to bring professional women’s Cricket to the region. Women’s Cricket is undergoing a restructure, with the ECB set to assign 8 counties with professional women’s teams, forming a new structure from 2025 onwards, aimed at further growing...

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TV Series Vera and author behind the books among winners at the 2024 North East England Tourism Awards Industry

TV Series Vera and author behind the books among winners at the 2024 North East England Tourism Awards

1 Mar 2024

The popular TV drama Vera and author Ann Cleeves, who wrote the book series, were awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award at last night’s (THURS) ceremony. They were among 14 other award winners who were named some of the best in the region at the prestigious annual awards. Exec...

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Tourism Awards Industry

Tourism Awards

28 Feb 2024

Taking place tomorrow night at Newcastle Civic Centre, The North East England Tourism Awards will celebrate the region's businesses and people that make our visitor economy so special. Good luck to VCD Partners Beamish Museum, Dalton Park Outlet & Outdoors, Event Durham, Hall Hill Farm, Hotel...

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Modernised Assessment Scheme Industry

Modernised Assessment Scheme

28 Feb 2024

Calling all County Durham tourism businesses, VisitEngland and the AA have launched their modernised Quality Assessment schemes, including a new Visitor Ready scheme. Visitor Ready empowers you to showcase your commitment to compliance with core standards, to assure customers you have the necessary...

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ETW Toolkit Industry

ETW Toolkit

26 Feb 2024

English Tourism Week takes place 15-24th March and the campaign toolkit is now available for you to download. Designed to kickstart the summer season, the annual campaign gives businesses and destinations an opportunity to shout about tourism as part of a national campaign, and raise awareness of...

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Destination 2034 Industry

Destination 2034

26 Feb 2024

On Monday 18th March from 9:30am, Destination North East England will be taking over Gateshead's iconic Glasshouse ICM for its first Destination 2034 Conference, as industry trailblazers, business leaders and visitor economy professionals join together for a day of inspiring panels, talks and...

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Three more celebrity chefs confirmed for Bishop Auckland Food Festival Industry

Three more celebrity chefs confirmed for Bishop Auckland Food Festival

26 Feb 2024

A BBC Saturday Kitchen presenter, an award-winning chef and a food content creator with millions of TikTok views will headline the Sunday cookery demonstration slots at this year’s Bishop Auckland Food Festival weekend. The festival, organised by Durham County Council, pulled in an estimated...

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Return of the Vikings! Industry

Return of the Vikings!

26 Feb 2024

A Viking village, complete with cookhouse, cottages and a working blacksmith’s forge, is being recreated as part of a spectacular live outdoor theatre production in County Durham. Taking place every Saturday night from 27th July to 14th September*, ‘Kynren – an epic tale of England’ is a...

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Help Amy become England’s Tourism Superstar and vote today! Industry

Help Amy become England’s Tourism Superstar and vote today!

26 Feb 2024

Amy Whitfield, owner of Triple A Food Tours is in the running to be named England’s Tourism Superstar 2024, but she needs your vote! Voting is now open for the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar title and Amy, is one of 10 superstars from around the country who are all competing for the prestigious...

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The Story to open this summer Industry

The Story to open this summer

16 Feb 2024

A brand-new visitor attraction telling the tale of County Durham’s heritage will open this summer. Durham County Council has confirmed that The Story, based at Mount Oswald in Durham City, is scheduled to the public from Friday 14 June. A brand-new cultural venue and register office for Durham...

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Fire and Ice Industry

Fire and Ice

16 Feb 2024

Durham's spectacular Fire and Ice festival is set to return this half term – and visitors to the city can expect to be dazzled by a ‘star-studded’ line-up. Organised by Durham BID, the event – which takes place from 10am to 5.45pm on Friday, February 23rd and Saturday 24th, will feature 14...

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Hotel Room Occupancy report Industry

Hotel Room Occupancy report

14 Feb 2024

Hotel Room Occupancy in England for December 2023 was up on December 2022, and also up on 2019 for the first time since the pandemic. Great news to see North East England recording the highest growth alongside London and the North West.  Read the full VisitEngland latest Hotel Occupancy data...

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Raby Castle vacancies Industry

Raby Castle vacancies

14 Feb 2024

Ahead of the opening of its new visitor experience this spring, Raby Castle is advertising for several new job vacancies. A key area of the restoration project is the recreation of the historic glass house into a beautiful dining destination with stunning panoramic views of Raby Castle. The Vinery...

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Food and Drink mentoring Industry

Food and Drink mentoring

14 Feb 2024

Food and Drink North East is delivering a fully funded programme for food, drink and hospitality providers in County Durham that will focus on improving productivity, and will combine a face-to-face workshop and tailored 1:1 mentoring from their team of experts. This opportunity is available to 25...

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