Beamish's Emily Hope is National VisitEngland Tourism Superstar!

April 9th 2019

Beamish’s Emily Hope is celebrating after being named national VisitEngland Tourism Superstar.

Emily, who works at the museum’s Entrance, is thrilled to have won the public vote to claim the prestigious title. She was among 10 finalists and made the shortlist after being crowned Durham Tourism Superstar last year.

She follows in the footsteps of Beamish’s Matthew Henderson, who won the national Tourism Superstar award in 2015, and Anthony Gales, who was runner-up in 2013.

 

Emily, Visitor Welcome and Retail (Gift Shop) Team Leader, said: “From the bottom of my heart I just want to say a huge thank you to every person who supported and voted for me in the Tourism Superstar competition.

“You’ve got no idea what it means to me to have been crowned VisitEngland national Tourism Superstar, I’m absolutely over the moon!

“I really hope that we’ve raised awareness of the important work that Beamish does for people living with dementia and their families. I hope that I’ve done Beamish, Durham and the whole of the North East proud by putting us firmly on the map and highlighting the fantastic tourism opportunities we have here in the region!”

Emily, in her beautiful Edwardian costume, with her beaming smile, greets visitors with the warmest of welcomes and makes sure they have an amazing day out. She is a Dementia Friends Champion who has trained more than 100 of the museum’s Dementia Friends.

She is always there to help, being involved in everything from Suffragette marches, shovelling snow and rock and roll dancing to setting up a Dementia Café, directing traffic and carving hundreds of Halloween pumpkins.

Rhiannon Hiles, Deputy Director of Beamish Museum, said: “Well, how proud are we of our very own Emily Hope becoming the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar?!

“What an accolade for Emily, the museum and County Durham in becoming the nation’s Superstar!

“Emily welcomes thousands of visitors to the region every day at Beamish and we are so delighted that everyone chose to vote for her in what has been a close contest with other outstanding individuals from fantastic organisations around the UK.”

Beamish Museum's Emily Hope with previous Tourism Superstar winner Matthew Henderson and runner-up Anthony Gales.

Andrew Stokes, VisitEngland Director, said: “The tourism industry depends on great people and this competition is all about recognising and thanking those individuals with their passion whose enthusiasm engages visitors from around the world.

“Emily Hope is a deserving winner for this year’s title. She brings history to life and goes the extra mile for visitors she welcomes to Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, and as also exemplified by her dedicated work as a dementia friend and trainer.”

People voted for the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar winner, which celebrates those working in the country’s tourism industry, on the Daily Mirror’s website. Runners-up were Ryan Sanders, from Brunel’s SS Great Britain, and Anthony Hurd, from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas Centre.

Michelle Gorman, Managing Director at Visit County Durham, said: “We’d like to extend our huge congratulations to Emily and Beamish Museum. From being named Durham Tourism Superstar in 2018 to now receiving the national accolade, these awards provide an invaluable platform to recognise the people that make Durham such an incredible destination.”