English tourism industry leaders gathered in anticipation at Cheltenham Racecourse this week, as they vied for the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2014.

A total of 17 accolades were up for grabs at the awards ceremony – now in its 25th year – which is held to promote excellence in England’s tourism industry and to celebrate the very best the country has to offer.

The Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award was awarded to ‘The Travel Agent’ in recognition of the continued level of support from the domestic travel trade in promoting the UK as a holiday destination, and the high quality of service and knowledge it provides to customers when booking a UK break.

"The tourism industry is playing a key part in our economic growth strategy and VisitEngland’s awards celebrates the very best visitor experiences on offer and the hugely talented people working within the sector,” said minister for tourism Helen Grant.

“Congratulations to domestic travel agents who have received the collective Outstanding Contribution Award and all the other winners who do a tremendous job in providing a warm welcome to visitors and delivering a first class product.”

Other awards announced at the ceremony in Cheltenham included the best Bed and Breakfast, Small Hotel, Tourism Experience, Tourism Pub of the Year, Taste of England, Sustainable Tourism, Business Tourism and Access for All Tourism Award.

The 31 Gold and Silver winners were selected by a panel of tourism industry experts and chaired by VisitEngland board member and chief executive of the Blenheim Estate in Oxfordshire, John Hoy.

For a full list of the 2014 winners, click here.