More businesses than ever before are set to battle it out at this year's Dorset Tourism Awards. 

The ceremony, which will be held at The Tank Museum on October 15, will see 51 businesses across 17 categories.

Launched in 2012, the awards aim to “raise the profile of Dorset as a destination and recognise its top quality and most progressive tourism businesses.”

This year’s awards saw an increased 76 entries across 17 categories, with each going through a three-stage judging process.

Each entry was pored over and scored by tourism professionals; the top scorers in the first phase were then visited, leading to recommendations for each category; and finally these recommendations were considered by an independent panel.

Finalists were selected from across the county with businesses from Lyme Regis, Poole, Weymouth, Christchurch, Bridport, Sherborne and Bournemouth featuring on the shortlist.

Nick Fernyhough, of headline sponsors Saffery Champness and a member of the judging panel, said: “Saffery Champness have been involved from the launch of the Dorset Tourism Awards back in 2012 and have been delighted to see the impact of their involvement on the development of the awards.

"The awards are helping to raise the profile of Dorset and also to raise the quality of the Dorset visitor experience. We are delighted with the high calibre of finalists and wait with much anticipation for the prestigious Awards evening."

Robin Barker of Services for Tourism, who created and manage the awards programme, added: “The last year has seen huge achievements for Dorset, with more businesses than ever before going on to win in Dorset, regionally and nationally.

"This year’s winner list is bigger than ever and I’d like to commend all finalists for being at the forefront of what is one of the world’s biggest, most dynamic and fastest growing industries.”

The event will see gold, silver and bronze awards given out next month.

Successful businesses in the Dorset Awards will automatically be considered for the South West Tourism Excellence Awards in February 2016 with the chance to go on to represent Dorset at the National VisitEngland Awards later in the year.

Further information is available from www.dorsettourismawards.org.uk

The finalists

Sponsored by Saffery Champness www.saffery.com 

Small Hotel of the Year

Sponsored by Clockwork Marketing www.clock-work.co.uk

  • Best Western The Grange at Oborne, Sherborne www.thegrangeatoborne
  • The Eastbury, Sherborne www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk
  • The Grove Hotel Bournemouth, Bournemouth www.thegrovebournemouth.co.uk

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 

Sponsored by The Italian Villa www.the-italian-villa.co.uk

  • Compton Acres, Poole www.comptonacres.co.uk
  • Poole Pottery, Poole www.poolepottery.co.uk
  • RNLI College, Poole www.rnli.org/college
  • The Ark, Poole www.thearkpoolpark.co.uk

Holiday Park of the Year 

Sponsored by Hoseasons www.hoseasons.co.uk

  • Higher Moor Farm Camp Site, Weymouth www.highermoorfarm.co.uk
  • Highlands End Holiday Park, Bridport www.highlandsendholidaypark.co.uk
  • Hoburne Park, Christchurch www.hoburne.com

Access and Inclusivity Award 

Sponsored by Purple Cloud Consultancy www.purplecloudconsultancy.co.uk

Cafe and Tearoom of the Year 

Sponsored by The Hotel & Catering Show www.hotel-expo.co.uk

  • Aroma Coffee House & Kitchen, Lyme Regis www.aromalymeregis.co.uk
  • Symondsbury Kitchen, Symondsbury www.symondsburykitchen.com
  • Worth Matravers Tea & Supper Room, Swanage www.worthmatraverstearoom.co.uk

Tourism Event of the Year 

Sponsored by Bournemouth University – School of Tourism www.bournemouth.ac.uk/tourism

  • Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival, Weymouth www.dorsetseafood.co.uk
  •  Poole Harbour Boat Show, Poole www.poolharbourboatshow.co.uk
  •  Sherborne Abbey Festival, Sherborne www.sherborneabbeyfestival.org
  •  Tankfest, Bovington www.tankmuseum.org

Bed & Breakfast and Guest Accommodation of the Year 

Sponsored by Goadsby www.goadsby.com

  •  Bradle Farmhouse, Wareham www.bradlefarmhouse.co.uk
  • Launceston Farm, Blandford Forum www.launcestonfarm.co.uk
  • The Balincourt, Bournemouth www.balincourt.co.uk

Venue & Business Tourism Award 

Sponsored by Saffery Champness www.saffery.com

  • Marsham Court Hotel, Bournemouth www.marshamcourthotel.co.uk
  • The Italian Villa, Poole www.the-italian-villa.co.uk

Tourist Information Service of the Year 

Sponsored by Resort Marketing www.resortmarketing.uk

  • Bournemouth Tourist Information Centre, Bournemouth www.bournemouth.co.uk
  • Discover Purbeck Information Centre, Wareham www.visitswanageandpurbeck.co.uk
  • Swanage Tourist Information, Swanage www.swanage.gov.uk

Tourism Activity, Sport & Experience of the Year 

Sponsored by Horsey Lightly Fynn www.hlf-law.co.uk

  •  Go Ape Moors Valley - Tree Top Adventure, Ringwood www.goape.co.uk/moors-valley
  • Lyme Bay Rib Charter, Bridport www.lymebayribcharter.co.uk
  • Brownsea Island, Poole www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea-island

Unsung Hero Award for Customer Service 

Award will be announced on the night

Sustainable Tourism Award 

Sponsored by Dorset Cereals www.dorsetcereals.co.uk

  • Bagwell Farm Touring Park, Weymouth www.bagwellfarm.co.uk
  • Fernhill Hotel, Bridport www.fernhill-hotel.co.uk
  • South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Lytchett Minster www.southlytchettmanor.co.uk

Large Hotel of the Year

Sponsored by NatWest www.natwest.com

  • Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa, Christchurch www.christchurch-harbour-hotel.co.uk
  • RNLI College, Poole www.rnli.org/college

Award for Outstanding Contribution to Dorset Tourism 

Award will be announced on the night

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year 

Sponsored by Take One Media www.takeonemedia.co.uk

  • Farmer Palmers Farm Park, Organford www.farmerpalmers.co.uk
  • Kingston Lacy, Wimborne Minster www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy
  • Moors Valley Country Park & Forest, Ashley Heath www.moors-valley.co.uk

Tourism Pub of the Year 

Sponsored by A Head for PR www.aheadforpr.co.uk

  • The Acorn Inn, Evershot www.acorn-inn.co.uk
  • The Thimble Inn, Piddlehinton www.thimbleinn.co.uk
  • The White Post, Rimpton www.thewhitepost.com

Self Catering Establishment of the Year 

Sponsored by Quality in Tourism www.qualityintourism.com

  • Caalm Leisure, Shaftesbury www.dorsetyurtcampsite.co.uk
  •  Glampotel, Bere Regis www.glampotel.com
  • Lancombe Country Cottages & Lodges, Dorchester www.lancombe.co.uk
  • Symondsbury Estate, Symondsbury www.symondsburyestate.co.uk

Restaurant of the Year 

  • Arbor Restaurant at The Green House Hotel, Bournemouth www.arbor-restaurant.co.uk
  • The Dorset Burger Company, Weymouth www.thedorsetburgercompany.co.uk
  •  The Eastbury, Sherborne www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk

Winner of Winners

Sponsored by Dorset LEP www.dorsetlep.co.uk

  • Award will be announced on the night