Holiday cottage lettings agency Best of Suffolk celebrates its 10th birthday this week with the news that more holidaymakers have booked Suffolk-based holidays with the company in 2016 so far than in any previous year.

Dr Dan Poulter MP marked the occasion with the visit to the business's headquarters in Badingham to meet the Best of Suffolk team and a cross-section of their many holiday cottage owners.

Best of Suffolk has grown dramatically year-on-year, from small beginnings, launched by Alex and Naomi Tarry with a portfolio of just six holiday cottages in 2006. At the time it was literally a 'cottage industry', run from the couple's dining room. The couple left their corporate careers to realise a vision of bringing the standards of boutique hotels to self catering accommodation, contributing to the county's booming tourism economy.

As the business grew, the Best of Suffolk team started to outgrow the dining room of the couple's home, until eventually they moved into a beautifully renovated barn. The business has gone on to be become one of the major tourism players in Suffolk, currently with 328 stylish holiday cottages.

Dr Dan Poulter, MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich said “I was absolutely delighted to be invited along to celebrate the occasion of the 10th birthday of Best of Suffolk and would like to offer Naomi, Alex and the team my congratulations.”

Dr Poulter went on to say “Best of Suffolk has been such a fantastic success story, with the business going from strength to strength and it's great to hear of businesses like these contributing to the local economy and growing year on year. 2016 looks set to be another bumper year for visitors coming to Suffolk and holiday makers looking to come to the county are spoilt for choice. I hope to be able to join Best of Suffolk at their 20th birthday celebrations.”

Alex Tarry, Director of Best of Suffolk, added: “Reaching ten years is a major milestone for us, and we are particularly proud of the contribution that the business makes to the wider Suffolk economy. Best of Suffolk brings tens of thousands of tourists into Suffolk each year, and these people are supporting many other Suffolk businesses by eating in local restaurants, buying local produce and visiting Suffolk's tourist attractions, spending money in our local communities.”

Best of Suffolk has won several awards, including East of England Businesswoman Entrepreneur of the Year Award (won by Naomi Tarry), the East of England Employers Award for 'Customer Focus' and the 'Contribution to Tourism' award at the Suffolk Coast Business Awards. Several of the properties marketed by Best of Suffolk have also received awards for conservation from Suffolk Coastal District Council, recognising the company's commitment to Suffolk's heritage and environment.

The couple's entrepreneurial spirit continues and in 2014 Alex founded a new estate agency business, Best Estates, with offices in Aldeburgh and Beccles, with a third office opening in Sudbury soon. The philosophy for this new business has been the same as at Best of Suffolk: to bring high standards of service to the market place.

The couple have been extremely keen to contribute in other ways to the local community over the ten years too, for example Naomi chaired the Aldeburgh Business Association for three years and is on the board of 'Suffolk Business Women', which is a part of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce.

Alex and Naomi are also advocates of business mentoring and supporting new entrepreneurs - something that helped them a lot in the early days of running their business.