THESE are some of the businesses that have made it to the semi-finals of the Bournemouth Tourism Awards.

Around 250 professionals were at Oasis Fun, Bournemouth for a VIP event, along with the mayors of Bournemouth and Christchurch and the chair of East Dorset District Council.

Jackie Phillipson of the Bournemouth Tourism Awards and ROUTEpr said: “This is our second year of running the awards and we are delighted to say there has been a 64 per cent increase in nominations, 56 per cent increase in entries and over 100 per cent increase in the four public voting categories. For the first time, we also have the new Green Initiative Award sponsored by Waste Management Facilities, which attracted a great response.”

Des Simmons, of Bournemouth Tourism Management Board (BTMB) and Bournecoast, said: “The Bournemouth Tourism Awards comprises 17 different categories and they are completely free to enter. The awards are now in their 11th year and they have seen an array of winners and finalists who deserve to be celebrated and rewarded for their incredible contribution to Bournemouth’s offering as a vibrant, cosmopolitan, seaside resort.

“This is the second year that ROUTEpr have been involved with the awards and we are delighted to see more nominations, entries and votes than in previous years. They are run and managed by ROUTEpr on behalf of the BTMB, and they could not be held without the tremendous support from all the sponsors and partners who make these awards possible.”

The semi-finalists are as follows.

Specialist Dining Experience (presented by Graham Moakes from Comax UK): Bates Restaurant, Bournemouth Steakhouse, Chicken and Blues, Del Marco, Friedas Tea Roo, Koh Thai Tapas, Nativ, Ojo rojo, Renoufs, Restaurant Hops, the Larder House

Large Hotel Award (presented by Andy Woodland from FJB Hotels and BAHA): Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa, Hallmark Hotel Bournemouth Carlton, Hampton by Hilton Bournemouth, Hilton Bournemouth, Hotel Miramar, Marsham Court Hotel, Norfolk Royale Hotel, Park Central Hotel, Cumberland Hotel.

Afternoon Tea Award (presented by Dimitrios Buhalis Department of Tourism and Hospitality Bournemouth University): Cliff House Hotel, Derby Manor Hotel & Restaurant, Dot Teas Vintage Tea Boutique, Friedas Tea Room, Green House Hotel, Hotel Miramar, Norfolk Royale Hotel, Steam Vintage Café, Ventana Grand Café, Woosters of Westbourne.

Bournemouth's Rising Star Award (presented by Richard Mack and Catherine Gregg from RT Promotions): Adam Lynk - Adam Lynk Photography, Carl Draper - Waveslider Photography, Jamie Bourne – Boscanova, Kane Webster - Websters Butchers, Martin Appels -Grove Tavern, Mike Bryant – 1812, Oliver Newton - Hotel Miramar, Sarah Ali Choudhury - Easy Curry, Tim Seward - Cliff House Hotel, Tom Keeping - Keeping and Co.

Small Hotel Award (presented by Michelle Lessig and Karen Culverwell from Berendsen): Captains Club Hotel & Spa, Chocolate Boutique Hotel, Cliff House Hotel, Derby Manor Hotel, Lea Hurst Hotel, Number 9 Wimborne, the Balincourt, the Grove Hotel, the Lord Bute, Urban Beach Hotel.

Education Award (presented by John Walsh from Bournemouth English Book Centre): Capital School of English, Classroom in the Heart of Industry (CHI), Department of Tourism and Hospitality at Bournemouth University - Dimitrios Buhalis, Explore Learning Bournemouth, Hadland Green Foundation, Hengistbury Head Outdoor Centre, MLS International College, Oceanarium Bournemouth, Sport BU - China Project.

Bournemouth's Best Night Out Award (presented by Jeff Bowden from Templar Wines): 1812 and Bar So, Bournemouth Jazz Festival, Canvas, Carls Comedy Club, Chaplins and the Cellar Bar, Coastal Comedy, Grosvenor Casino, Mai Tai Cocktail Bar, Renoufs, Urban Reef, Walkabout Bournemouth.

The World Cuisine Award (presented by MediaWise and MMediaGroup): Chicken and Blues, Koh Thai Tapas, Nativ, Noodle Bar Bournemouth, Ojo Rojo, Quarters Restaurant Bar, Turtle Bay Bournemouth, Zorbas Greek Restaurant.

Bournemouth's Best Breakfast Award (presented by Clare Smales from Wave 105): Binnies, Boscanova, CU Latte, Cosy Club Bournemouth, English Rose Café, Fresh & Tasty, Fresh Edge Café, Kitchen, Sands 2, The Hungry Wolf Café.

The Family Eating Experience Award (presented by Steve Hughes from Town Centre BID): Cosy Club Bournemouth, Del Marco, Flirt, Key West Bar and Grill, Koh Thai Tapas Bournemouth, Nativ, Quarters Restaurant Bar, The Bournemouth Steakhouse, The Larder House, Urban Reef.

The Green Initiative Award (presented by Lisa Delahunty and Genna Delahunty from Waste Management Facilities): BH Live, Boscanova, Count On Me, Marvo Mysteries Escape Room Bournemouth, Green House Hotel, Hadland Green Foundation, Little Pickle Deli Café, RNLI Hub, Sustainable Food City, We Do Ethical Fashion.

The Unsung Hero Award (presented by Des Simmons, BTMB and Bournecoast, the mayor and mayoress of Bournemouth and Jackie Phillipson of ROUTEpr): Ben Harrison, David and Jane Bailey, Harry Seccombe, Ian Goode, Jenni Wilkinson, Rosie Wallace, Simon Richards, Sophie Cox, Tim Seward.

Transport Delivery Award (presented by ROUTEpr): Bournemouth Boating Service, Discover Dorset, Dorset Cruises, Dorset Dubhire, Friedas Tea Bus, Hengistbury Head Land Train, Morebus, South Coast Travel, Swanage Railway, Yellow Buses - Poetry Bus.

Best Retail Experience Award (presented by Mandy Payne, past president Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce): All Fired Up, Attico, Fab Frocks, Nellie Mimosa, Scribbler, Soda Beauty & Blow dry bar, Sustainable Food City, The House of Lights, Webster Family Butchers Ltd, Westbourne Bookshop.

Creative Concept of the Year Award (presented by Andy Martin from Bournemouth Daily Echo): Bournemouth Jazz Festival, Business Events Bournemouth, Coastal BID, Conker Spirit, Marvo Mysteries Escape Room Bournemouth, Friedas Tea Bus, In-360, Renoufs, Science Zone, Sustainable Food City, Yellow Buses - Poetry Bus

Bar Personality of the Year Award (presented by Ian Davey from Signature Catering): Ben Flewitt - Eden Bournemouth, Gemma Terry - Ojo Rojo, Hassan Mugambwa - The Lost Paradise, Julezz Towers - Le Chic, Liam White - Cosy Club, Pippa Mann – Camden, Robert Haidau, Salvatore Damiano - The Larder House, Sarah Rogers – 1812, Tommo Quy - Captains Club.

The Great Time Out Award (presented by Norman Hayward of Oasis Fun): All Fired Up, Arts by the Sea Festival - Bournemouth Borough Council, Bournemouth 7s, Bournemouth Aviation Museum, Bournemouth Jazz Festival, Coastal Comedy, Marvo Mysteries Escape Room Bournemouth, Oceanarium Bournemouth, Restaurant Hops, RockReef and the Pier Zip, Science Zone, Swanage Railway, The Shake and Stir Vintage Festival.

The finalists will be notified ahead of the final gala awards ceremony which takes place on March 9. Tickets are at tourism-awards.co.uk/bournemouth-tourism-awards-gala-dinner/