The Cumbria Tourism Awards Judging Process
In round one, up to 4 finalists will be shortlisted in each category, based on the information provided in the entry form and any supporting evidence. Your entries are scored against a strict scoring matrix prepared by VisitEngland and followed by all regions. Please answer as fully as possible and don’t assume the judges already know anything about your business.
The finalists will be announced in mid-April and informed about round two of judging – either a mystery shopping visit or an announced judging visit.
While the awards are free to enter, finalists will be required to pay for a mystery shopping visit or judging visit. These costs will be appropriate to each award category. Full details can be found here. Further details will be sent with the shortlisting notification should you reach the event final.
Where applicable, a mystery shopping visit will be realistic and appropriate to the award category. It will mimic natural consumer behaviour and be enacted by the mystery customer researcher. The fee charged includes the cost of accommodation, meals, entrance fees and visitor guides as appropriate to your award entry and business. A report detailing the mystery shoppers’ experiences will be shared with the judges and finalists will also receive copies after the awards ceremony has taken place.
An announced judging visit will be pre-arranged and will include a tour of the business and a discussion about the products and services offered as appropriate to the award category.
Winners will be selected based on the scores received in round one and two combined. Where scores are equal, an independent judging panel will meet to review the mystery shopper reports, entry forms and any other relevant information and decide the category winners.