The winners of the inaugural 2019 SO Star Awards were announced at a glitzy gala awards’ ceremony held at the Southampton Harbour Hotel and Spa on Sunday 14th April.
A fabulous, fun-filled celebration of tourism, business and retail at its finest, the new SO Star Awards, with title sponsor GO! Southampton, the Business Improvement District (BID) were extremely competitive, drawing entrants from across the Southampton area. The award categories included Education, Dining Experience, Hotels, Shopping Experience, New Business, Innovation, Leading Star, Event, Community, Night Time, Here 2 There, Environment and included two public votes for Rising Star and Mix Master.
Annaliese Hughes, Vice Chair of GO! Southampton, said: “The SO Awards attracted sponsors, partners and entries who all understand the hard work and dedication needed to maintain and develop Southampton as an exciting destination. Many are well-known in the local community; people with great connections who interact and trade with other like-minded businesses.”
The SO Star Awards have been launched by ROUTEpr and Events, in association with GO! Southampton and are supported by sponsors and partners including, Wave 105, DA Training and Consultancy, A-One Insurance Group, Meridian Lifts, ELIS, Ange’s Brow & Beauty, Pernod Ricard UK, Radweb and Laser Crystal.
Jackie Phillipson, curator of the Star Awards, said: “We are delighted with the high calibre of entries for the first SO Star Awards. The judges were very impressed by the level of business growth, development and enthusiasm. The value of winning or being in the top three has great kudos and the related publicity and marketability means that the winners in gold, silver and bronze all have something to shout about as they return to congratulate their teams. Well done to everyone who entered and especially to the deserving winners.”
Nominations are now open for SO Star Awards 2020. For more information visit www.sostars.co.uk
The 2019 SO Star Awards Winners are:
Here 2 There (Sponsored by GO! Southampton)
GOLD Steamship Sheildhall
SILVER Southampton Airport
BRONZE Southampton Ghost Tours / Supernatural Tours and Events Ltd
BRONZE Bluestar
BRONZE Mayflower Heritage Guides
Hotel (Sponsored by ELIS)
GOLD – Boutique Hotel Spot In The Woods
GOLD – Large Hotel Best Western Chilworth Manor
SILVER – Large Hotel Southampton Harbour Hotel and Spa
BRONZE – Large Hotel Hilton at the Ageas Bowl
Future Proofing & Innovation (Sponsored by Meridian Lifts)
GOLD Aspire Business Clubs
SILVER Limitless Float
BRONZE Shop Creative (The Graduate Collective Ltd)
BRONZE Room2 Southampton
Event / Pop Up (Sponsored by A-One Insurance Group)
GOLD The Pink Ball – The London Hotel
SILVER Southampton Boat Show
SILVER Shop Creative (The Graduate Collective Ltd)
BRONZE Southampton Ghost Tours / Supernatural Tours and Events Ltd
Shopping Experience (Sponsored by GO! Southampton)
GOLD David Mellor Family Jewellers
SILVER W J French & Son
BRONZE Ange’s Brow and Beauty Studio
Top of the Class, Education (Sponsored by DA Training & Consulting)
GOLD The Daisy Chain Group
SILVER See Southampton
BRONZE Solent Creatives
Rising Star (Public Vote) (Sponsored by A-One Insurance Group)
GOLD Lewis Folland – Steamship Sheildhall
SILVER Maddy Alexander-Grout – My VIP Card
BRONZE Michelle Thomas – Room2 Southampton
Environment / Green Initiative (Sponsored by GO! Southampton)
GOLD Bluestar
SILVER Yomp and Chomp
Community (Sponsored by DA Training & Consulting)
GOLD The London Hotel
SILVER See Southampton
BRONZE Southampton Tourist Guides
New Business (Ange’s Brow & Beauty)
GOLD Limitless Float
SILVER Olive Southampton
SILVER Room2 Southampton
BRONZE My VIP Card
Dining Experience (Sponsored by ELIS)
GOLD Grand Café
SILVER Spot in the woods
SILVER The Jetty, Ocean Village
BRONZE Piecaramba!
Night Time Economy (Sponsored by GO! Southampton)
GOLD Orange Rooms
SILVER The London Hotel
Mix Master (Public Vote) (Sponsored by Meridian Lifts)
GOLD Dan Hanson – Orange Rooms
SILVER Damaine Hinds – Banana Wharf
BRONZE Adam Clarke – Dolphin Hotel
Leading Star (Sponsored by DA Training & Consulting)
GOLD Welcome Desk Team – See Southampton
SILVER Shirley Pinn – Destination Southampton
BRONZE Nathan Chart – Chilworth Manor