APPLICATIONS are open to take on responsibility for the delivery of the renamed Bournemouth and Poole Tourism Awards after the former organiser’s contract expired.

The BAPTAs will not take place this year to allow for a review ahead of the formation of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole unitary authority.

However, attention has already turned to the ceremony’s return in 2020 with potential contractors invited to lodge their bid for a minimum three-year tender.

In June this year, the established programme will relaunch as the Destination Awards.

A tender process has been initiated by the Bournemouth and Poole tourism management board, which will become the destination management board when Local Government Reorganisation takes place in April.

The BAPTAs had taken place annually since they were launched in 2006 as just the Bournemouth Tourism Awards. Up until 2014 they were delivered by Bournemouth Tourism on behalf of the tourism management board.

In 2015, ROUTEpr and Events was handed a three-year contract to takeover the awards and they increased the size and profile of the awards considerably.

The agency is running its own tourism awards this year.

On the one-year hiatus of the BAPTAs, Andy Woodland, chair of the current tourism management board, said: “We want to reflect the diversity of the combined destination and it will be a key priority for the board to continue to celebrate the contribution that businesses of all sizes and individuals in all areas make to a dynamic and high quality offer.”

Details of the requirements for new organisers include:

  • Creating a high-level event attracting sufficient applicants to warrant the awards.
  • Consulting the tourism management board over all major decisions.
  • Attract suitable and sufficient sponsors to finance the awards.
  • Organise all ticketing, catering, presentations and any entertainment appropriate to the theme of the awards.
  • A minimum three-year contract term, with a maximum of six years up for grabs.