LOCAL success at the recent Tourism in Suffolk Awards bodes well for the upcoming Sunrise Coast Tourism Awards 2009, supported by the Beccles and Bungay Journal and the Lowestoft Journal.

LOCAL success at the recent Tourism in Suffolk Awards bodes well for the upcoming Sunrise Coast Tourism Awards 2009, supported by the Beccles and Bungay Journal and the Lowestoft Journal.

The Tourism in Suffolk Awards, now in their fourth year, are organised by Archant Suffolk and reward key players within Suffolk's tourism industry.

Tourism businesses in Waveney achieved great success at the awards with Pleasurewood Hills and Southwold Pier amongst some of the winning names.

The Mill House Bed and Breakfast, Oulton Broad, received the Best B&B/Guesthouse award and Pine Trees B&B, Beccles, attained the award for Sustainable Tourism.

Pleasurewood Hills was awarded Best Visitor Experience and the Best Large Attraction category was won by Southwold Pier, with owners Stephen and Antonia Bournes receiving the award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism.

With Waveney's tourism industry having achieved such great success at a regional level and with a wealth of market leading tourism businesses in the local area, it will make selecting the winner of each category at the upcoming Sunrise Coast Tourism Awards 2009 an extremely difficult task.

The Sunrise Coast welcomes more than four million visitors each year, with tourism contributing more than �235 million to the local economy and supports more than 11pc of jobs in the area.

Much of the industry's success can be accredited to the outstanding facilities within Waveney, from high quality accommodation to innovative visitor experiences.

Previous winners have included Africa Alive! Britten House, Ivy House Country Hotel, and Broadland Holiday Village.

The categories this year include Best Bed and Breakfast, Best Hotel, Best Holiday Park, Best Small Attraction (under 10,000 visitors a year), Best Large Attraction (more than 10,000 visitors a year) and new for 2009, Best Heritage Venue.

Once all nominations have been received, the judging panel will review the nominations and select finalists in each category.

Members of the Tourism Forum, The Beccles and Bungay Journal and The Lowestoft Journal, will form the judging panel, who will review all nominations before announcing the winner at the Sunrise Coast Tourism Conference on November 24.

As with previous years, the panel will be looking at organisations and businesses that exceed customer expectations, promote the use of local produce and suppliers, and make efforts to become sustainable.

There is still plenty of time to submit your nomination for the Sunrise Coast Tourism Awards with the deadline on October 24, 2009. Simply complete the form in the Lowestoft.