Isle of Wight residents invited to nominate their Tourism Heroes for 2024 accolade

Red Funnel are asking Isle of Wight businesses and residents to nominate their very own Tourism Hero for 2024 – a brand-new accolade launched as part of the annual Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards held earlier this month.

The recipient of this new award can be anyone working within the Island’s tourism industry who goes above and beyond at what they do; be it innovative business owners and dedicated employees or volunteers giving their time to create a memorable experience.

Nominate by 30th November
Islanders are invited to nominate their Tourism Hero by 30th November, ready to announce the winner by the end of the year.

Red Funnel CEO Fran Collins looks forward to presenting the award to the first well-deserving winner,

“We are thrilled to introduce our brand-new Tourism Hero award as part of the annual Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards. This is more than just a recognition; it’s a celebration of the extraordinary people who make the Isle of Wight an unforgettable and wonderfully different destination. Supporting this award means shining a light on those who go above and beyond and making sure they get the recognition they deserve.
“We can’t wait to read the submissions and have no doubt that with so many incredible individuals on the Island, this isn’t going to be an easy choice!”

How to nominate
To enter a nomination, simply share your Tourism Hero’s name, tourism association and the reason why they deserve to be celebrated by visiting the online nomination page.

Red Funnel is also pleased to announce that applications are now officially open for the sixth annual Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards in 2025 – just one week on from this year’s glittering ceremony, which saw 57 fantastic local businesses recognised with an award. A full list of 2024 winners can be found on the website.

Celebrating the brightest and best playing their part in the Island’s excellent visitor experience, eligible businesses can put themselves forward for up to two coveted Isle of Wight Awards in 2025, before handing over to the public to vote for their favourites.

Shot of the award trophies and certificates

19 award categories
Free to enter, there are 19 awards to choose from under four main categories: Places to Stay, Places to Eat, Things to Do and Isle of Woof. Whether a business is revered for its dog-friendly offering, serves a mean Sunday Roast, is regularly adding to an exciting attraction or is proud to offer a unique Island retreat, there’s an award to recognise their efforts.

Applications for the 2025 Isle of Wight Awards closes 30th March 2025. The three businesses with the most votes under each category will be invited to receive gold, silver or bronze at the Red Funnel Isle of Wight Awards ceremony at the end of next year – a celebration of the hard work and tourism efforts that makes the Island such a wonderfully different place to visit.

To nominate your business, visit the website

Fran Collins speaking at the podium during the awards ceremony

How businesses can apply:

To be eligible for application, businesses must be an active contributor to the Isle of Wight tourism industry and have a mixed customer base of both residents and visitors.