Accra, July 31, GNA - The Eighth Ghana Tourism Awards being

organised by management of Ghana Tourist Board (GTB) has been

scheduled for Saturday August 2, at State Banquet Hall in Accra. The biennial event, which represents the highest accolade for

hospitality service providers in the country, would reward excellence,

ensure competitiveness and promote Ghana as a top class tourist

destination in Africa. Mr Martin Mireku, Acting Executive Director of GTB, briefing the

media in Accra on Wednesday said prizes would include

refrigerators, television sets, certificates, hampers, assorted

detergents, a six-month advertisement package on GTB website,

scholarship packages and training tours. He said management of GTB in consultation with stakeholders

organized this year's event on zonal basis, instead of the previous 10

regional events and the national award. Zone one was Upper West, East and Northern Regions, Zone two

Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions and zone three Central,

Western, Greater Accra and Volta Regions. Categories of the awards are, Accommodation Establishment of

the Year for three-star hotels and the contestants are, Fiester Hotel in Accra and Volta Hotel, Akosombo, Accommodation Establishment

of the Year for two-star hotels the contestants are, Chance Hotel, Ho,

Eusbett Hotel, Sunyani and Mariam Hotel, Tamale, Accommodation

Establishment of the Year for one-star hotels, the contestants are,

Sira Hotel Bolgatanga, Axim Beach Hotel, Axim and Regent Resorts

Sunyani, Guest House of the Year, the contestants are, Samata Guest

House, Bolgatanga, Villa Victoria, West Legon, Accra and Morinest

Guest House. Contestants for Car Rental Service of the Year are, Alamo Car

Rentals and Saint Michaels Car Rentals both in Kumasi, Travel

Agency of the Year, Journeymax Executive Travel and Tours, Accra

and Travel House Kumasi. Sunyani and Tamale would compete for the cleanest Town of the

Year, Sly Hutchison, Kumasi and Felix Nguah, Elmina would

compete for Tour Guide of the Year, while Hippo Sanctuary,

Wechiau, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Accra and Manhyia Palace in Kumasi would compete for Visitor Attraction Site of the

Year. Under Culinary Services category, Kyidom Restaurant at

Nkawkaw is the only nominee for Restaurant of the Year Grade three,

Tietaar Restaurant at Bolgatanga, Linda D'or Restaurant at Bunsu and

Goldfingers Restaurant at Ho would compete for Restaurant of the

Year Grade two, Moti Mahal Restaurant in Kumasi and Imperial

Palace at Tema would compete for Restaurant of the Year Grade

one. Mr Kingsley Hope of Ghanaian Times was adjudged Tourism

Journalist of the Year, Night Club of the Year is Afrodisiac Night Club.