THE prestigious Bristol, Bath, and Somerset Tourism Awards have confirmed Exmoor Character Cottages as a Resilience and Innovation Award finalist.

The 2022 awards come hot on the heels of the most challenging period in the hospitality industry.

Sponsored by Quality in Tourism, judges assessed how finalists adapted and overcame COVID-19 challenges and supported their local communities during the pandemic.

Lucy Green, owner of the luxury holiday cottage business, said: “Finding our way through this was a top priority.”

Lucy, along with her team of housekeepers, gardeners, maintenance crew, and marketing staff, worked tirelessly to ensure that the overall experience for guests was first-class.

Somerset County Gazette:
Owner Lucy Green with one of her marketing team, David Oxendale

She also said: “Everything about the pandemic posed a challenge; from the initial lockdown to managing the disappointment of our valued guests prevented from travelling, as well as keeping our local teams on board and paid. We did everything we could to ensure happy holidays here on Exmoor once the pandemic was over.”

As a result, Exmoor Character Cottages welcomed a record number of guests to their four luxury self-catering holiday cottages in Minehead and Dunster during 2021 and celebrated their busiest ever season.

The 80 per cent plus occupancy rate was a first for the business.

Lucy attributes this to the unwavering commitment and continuing vision for the holiday cottage enterprise during the uncertainty of the pandemic.

The Exmoor Character Cottages team now looks forward to the prestigious Awards Evening and the chance to raise a well-earned glass or two during the online ceremony next month.

“We are all so pleased to be in the final of the Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards. It is a real group effort, and we look forward to joining all the other finalists next month and hearing of their success stories,” she added.