The county's biggest celebration of tourism and hospitality, the Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism and Good Food Awards, is now open for entries!

Organised by Destination Staffordshire, the county's official tourist board, in partnership with headline sponsor We Are Staffordshire, the awards see attractions, experiences, accommodation businesses, restaurants, pubs and cafes go head-to-head in 18 categories.

This year, there will be a special award for Resilience and Innovation, for businesses which have demonstrated innovation, resilience, adaptation and support for their local communities during Covid-19.

There is also the new Unsung Hero Award, which recognises an individual who excels in their role and deserves to be applauded for their work and commitment to the industry.

Winners will progress to the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2022, giving them the chance to emulate Gladstone Pottery Museum, named England's Best Small Visitor Attraction last year, and the National Memorial Arboretum, which was Best Large Visitor Attraction in 2018.

Destination Staffordshire's Andrea Sammons said: "We were bitterly disappointed not to run an awards competition in 2020, but we felt it wasn't appropriate to do so, with so many of our businesses adversely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

"Twelve months on, with lockdown restrictions easing and optimism returning, we feel the time is right to celebrate our tourism and hospitality industry, and the huge contribution it makes to the growing Staffordshire visitor economy.

"It's also an opportunity for Staffordshire businesses to recognise the hard work of their teams, and the only way for them to qualify for the national awards."

Louisa Grocott, Place Brand Manager at We Are Staffordshire, said: "We are delighted to support the Enjoy Staffordshire Tourism and Good Food Awards 2021.

"We Are Staffordshire launched in late 2020 to deliver a new and vibrant brand proposition for the county – a compelling Staffordshire Story – that supports growth and prosperity for our county.

"Tourism and the hospitality sector are a central part of Staffordshire's story and identity – worth £1.87 billion to our economy in 2019. After an unpredicted year it's more important than ever that we recognise the huge contribution that the industry makes to our county."

The awards are free to enter for Destination Staffordshire members, or £100+VAT for non-members (or businesses which have applied for the free membership package), and all applications must be submitted online before 23:59 on Sunday 12th September 2021.

Details of all the categories and how to apply are available at www.destinationstaffordshire.com