Maidenhead & Windsor

Royal Windsor Information Centre has been highly commended in a prestigious tourism award scheme.

The information centre, in the Old Booking Hall, Royal Windsor Station, was recognised in the Tourist Information Centre of the Year category at the Tourism ExSEllence Awards 2007. The awards scheme recognises excellence, quality and innovation across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Royal Windsor Information Centre was rewarded for various key aspects of its operation, including innovation, excellent customer service and continued commitment to improving performance and services to visitors. According to the judges, the centre was singled out for the role it plays in supporting the local tourism industry and for 'forging highly-effective partnerships'.

Cllr Elisabeth Barton, chairman of the Windsor and Maidenhead borough's Visitor Management Forum, said: "The visitor information centre staff deal with hundreds of queries on a daily basis, advising several million people each year on the wonderful attractions we have in the Royal Borough.

"To be singled out for this commendation is a great achievement of which they should be very proud."

Julia White, visitor manager, said: "Well done to all the team whose work has been acknowledged as being first class. There are more than 500 information outlets in England and we are absolutely delighted the Royal Windsor Information Centre has been given national recognition as one of the top three in the South East."

The Tourism ExSEllence Awards ceremony, which took place at Wentworth on October 23, was a winning night for the Thames Valley with Ascot Racecourse being awarded the title of Best Tourism Experience and www.visitthames.co.uk - owned and managed by the Environment Agency in Reading on behalf of the River Thames Alliance - voted Best Tourism website.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead