21 February 2025
A team of volunteers who welcome visitors and tourists to Southampton have been shortlisted for a VisitEngland award – and they need your votes!
The Southampton Saints, a group of local enthusiasts who provide cruise passengers with useful information and directions on where to go and what to see, are finalists in the Tourism Superstar Awards 2025, run by VisitEngland.
Now in its 13th year, the awards seek to find the unsung heroes currently working in tourism across England who provide unforgettable visitor experiences, as well as showcasing the best of English tourism.
The Southampton Saints volunteer programme launched last year by GO! Southampton, the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) and in partnership with Associated British Ports (ABP) Southampton to enhance the cruise passenger welcome into the city. In 2024 the team welcomed over 3,000 passengers offering directions to attractions and personalised recommendations for local businesses to discover.
Ian Henderson, Group Head of Property at ABP, said: “It’s exciting that this initiative is a finalist in the Tourism Superstar Awards. In less than a year, the Southampton Saints have helped thousands of cruise passengers explore the city. This collaborative idea, developed over two years ago, has become a reality and is now recognised as a finalist in the awards, we couldn’t be prouder.”
Stephen Manion, Executive Director at GO! Southampton said: “We are very, very excited to be finalists in this prestigious award and extremely proud of our volunteers, who give freely of their time to share their passion for Southampton with thousands of cruise passengers arriving at the port. Our dedicated team celebrates and showcases the city’s great attractions and fantastic heritage to visitors from all over the world, making their experience more enjoyable and memorable.”
There are 10 finalists competing to take the title of VisitEngland Tourism Superstar this year, with voting open now until 23 March. The finalist with the largest number of votes will secure the crown.
Click here to vote!
