The Dandelion Hideaway has been awarded Self Catering Holiday Provider of the Year at the Leicester and Leicestershire Excellence in Tourism Awards 2012.
Launched in 2011, John and Sharon Earp set out to offer guests the ultimate Glamping experience with five custom made �country canvas cottages�, nestled into the idyllic countryside on their working farm, Osbaston House Farm. Sharon created chic nostalgic interiors with vintage touches and every comfort, including a roll top bath in the en suite bathroom, with lashings of hot water. In addition, they created an interactive experience for guests with tours of the farm, demonstrations of how to milk the goats, plus pony grooming for children and a chance to look after the hens.
Sharon Earp commented, �We are delighted to have been chosen. We have been overwhelmed by the wonderful comments of guests who have stayed with us, and to have this prestigious award as well is the icing on the cake.�
Chief Executive, Martin Peters, commented on this category: �With the growth in domestic tourism and the continued 'staycation' phenomenon, the self-catering sector has seen great growth in recent years. But with growth comes increased competition and raised customer expectations. Generally there has been an extraordinary raising of standards in this sector with beautiful accommodation packed with lots of extras. No longer is it sufficient to offer a 'home from home' experience as people now want their break to give them something that makes them feel they've had a real treat.
And the strength of competition in this area was highly apparent in the Leicestershire entries. The judges were very mindful that for our winner to make it through to the national finals, we need to find somewhere that can truly demonstrate they are offering something that cannot be found anywhere else. Our winner meets this criteria by taking a concept that is no longer unique and truly differentiating it from the rest with some really exciting innovations and developments. There is a clear ambition to be the best of the kind.�
Established by Leicester Shire Promotions, the awards celebrate the excellent service that the wide range of local visitor attractions, accommodation providers, restaurants and events offer to ensure visitors to the destination have the best possible experience during their stay. All winners will automatically qualify for the national finals of the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012.
Martin Peters, Chief Executive of Leicester Shire Promotions, said: �Our congratulations go out to all of the winners. The quality that they presented in their applications, and consequently the quality of the experience for their visitors, means that they were fully deserved of their awards. We look forward to seeing how they fare against the cream of the nation�s tourism industry in the national awards later in the year.�
About Leicester Shire Promotions: Leicester Shire Promotions is a private, not-for-profit company formed in July 2003 and is a partnership between Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council. The company is the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) responsible for promoting Leicester and Leicestershire to visitors, based on a coordinated place marketing strategy that focuses on destination leadership and coordination, attracting and visitors, services for and visitors, and services for the tourism industry.