Britannia's ship comes in with venue award

Published on Monday 17 November 2003 00:00

THE Royal Yacht Britannia has been named the best venue in the UK for its staging of corporate events.

Bosses are celebrating the five-star attraction being awarded the title of Most Excellent Venue in the UK by Conde Nast Johansens.

The leading tourism guide publisher makes an award for excellence to properties worldwide that represent the very highest standards.

Britannia has scooped the award just months after being named runner-up in a contest to find the UK’s best tourist attraction, to the London Eye.

Last month it was announced that more than 1.6 million people have toured the vessel since she arrived in the port of Leith five years ago.

The attraction currently employs 80 staff and has a turnover of more than 4 million. Income from corporate events this year is up around 40 per cent on the figure for the equivalent period last year.

Britannia’s head of corporate events, Angela Stewart, said: "We’re delighted to have won such an influential award, which recognises that we always put the customers at the heart of our business and the fact that we’ve been voted the best in the UK after just five years is an incredible achievement."

Tourism Minister Frank McAveety said: "It comes as no surprise to me that Britannia has won such an award.

"The Royal Yacht recently played host to a meeting between myself and fellow UK tourism ministers, and the elegance and grandeur of the ship was unparalleled."