During ITB in Berlin four UKinbound members received a prestigious award for their work supporting visitors from China. The European Chinese Tourist Welcoming (ECTW) Awards include a Gold, Silver and Bronze level for each of the following five categories: Product Innovation, Website, Human Resource Development, Marketing, and Overall Performance.

Visit London won the Gold Award in the Marketing category and the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour and China Holidays won the Silver and Bronze Awards respectively for Product Innovation. Marriott International received their bronze award for Human Resources Development.

The awards, which enjoy the support of the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation), are increasingly viewed as a sign of quality for the expanding European Chinese inbound market. Nominations were open to National Tourism Organisations, Destination Marketing Organisations, tourism service providers, private companies from the leisure, tourism and hospitality sector as well as transportation and retail companies from across Europe.

Stephen Dowd, UKinbound Chief Executive, said: "Less than a year after the Approved Destination Status (ADS) Agreement was signed by the UK and Chinese Governments, we are delighted that our members' efforts in preparing for this new market have been recognised. With stiff competition from organisations throughout Europe, many of whom have enjoyed the benefits of an ADS agreement for longer than our members here in the UK, winning these awards is a clear indication of the quality of UK tourism products and services."

Notes to editors:

UKinbound is a trade association founded in 1977 to represent the interests of companies deriving a substantial part of their income from the provision of tourism services for overseas visitors to the UK. Further information on UKinbound can be viewed at www.ukinbound.org

Visit London is the official visitor organisation for London. Its role is to promote London as the world�s most exciting city, targeting domestic and overseas leisure and business visitors as well as Londoners. The London Tourism Board works in partnership with the Mayor, the London Development Agency and the commercial industry. www.visitlondon.com

The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum and Tour offers a glimpse of how the original medieval real tennis has now become a multi-million dollar professional sport played all over the world. The brand new state of the art museum will be opened on 12 April 2006 and will feature exhibits and artefacts never seen before, as well as audio guides in eight different languages. www.wimbledon.org/museum

China Holidays is a tour operator specialising in the Chinese market, providing high quality tours for both in-and outbound visitors. www.chinaholidays.com

Marriott International is a global hotel chain with lodging properties in 67 countries including the UK. www.Marriott.com

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For further information, or to arrange an interview:

with Stephen Dowd, Chief Executive UKinbound

please contact:

Janet McCready

Tel: 020 7734 9569 Fax: 020 7287 3217

Email: janetmccready@ukinbound.org