Organisers of the Visit Cheshire Tourism Awards, which salute those behind the region’s £4.3bn visitor economy, have made a final call for entries – after one of last year’s winners picked up a national gold medal.
Straddling 18 categories and organised by Marketing Cheshire, the awards celebrate the businesses and people powering Cheshire and Warrington’s world class tourism offer.
The 2026 final was held at a sold-out Walton Hall and Gardens in March with winners including Jayne Chapman Manager of Tatton Park’s Farm who scooped the Unsung Hero award.
She was among select category winners who went on to represent the region at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence. And this week she took home the Unsung Hero gold medal at the national event hosted by journalist and broadcaster Sean Fletcher at Aerospace Bristol.
Jayne picked up the honour after judges heard how Jayne, who strives for “visitors to go home with a love for the animals and the outdoors”, has dedicated 35 years to Tatton Park, progressing from Farm Assistant to Farm Manager in 2009. Her work comes amid a passion for animals, education, and wellbeing which has transformed the farm into a vibrant, inclusive space welcoming thousands of visitors annually.
The deadline for entries for the Visit Cheshire Tourism Awards including a new Cheshire Rising Star category honouring 16-to-24-year-olds is next Friday, June 12 – with the only exception the Best Event or Festival category – entries for this one must be in by Friday, August 28.
And today urging people to enter Jamie Christon, chair of Marketing Cheshire said Jayne’s success not just regionally but nationally was testament to the extremely high calibre of applicants the awards receive every year.
He added: “It was fantastic to see Jayne fly the flag for a world class tourism sector that enjoys more than 50 million recorded visits each year and even better that after success at the Visit Cheshire Tourism Awards she deservedly took gold at the national awards.
“Hopefully her success will inspire others to enter the Visit Cheshire Tourism Awards 2027 while they still can, and be part of what is a standout celebration on the region’s calendar as we recognise innovation, excellence and the sheer hard work of the people behind a globally renowned sector.”
Carole Hyde, Head of Rural and Cultural Economy at Tatton Park said “Everyone here is incredibly proud of Jayne; this recognition is truly deserved and reflects her outstanding leadership, dedication, and lasting impact within the tourism sector. It highlights her ability to inspire others through exceptional commitment and a determination to go above and beyond in her role.”
Details on how to enter the Visit Cheshire Tourism Awards 2027 can be found here: https://industry.visitcheshire.com/tourism-awards
