Tourism ambassador shortlisted for top honour
A West Midlands Welcome Ambassador has been shortlisted to win the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar 2023 competition after successfully making it into the final 10 entrants.
Navnit Jogi (pictured) - known as 'Yogi ' - from the West Midlands has been shortlisted for his contribution as a Welcome Ambassador during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Created by the Business and Tourism Programme (BATP) and delivered with The Welcome People, Yogi and his colleagues worked at a host of mobile information units between March and October at key locations throughout the West Midlands.
'Yogi ' made every one of the team 's 50,000 recorded interactions with visitors a special moment.
He took the time to chat and get pictures whilst dressed in his custom-made Peaky Blinders attire.
Throughout his eight months as an ambassador, 'Yogi ' travelled from his home in Wolverhampton across the West Midlands.
His nomination is recognition of his infectious enthusiasm, which rubbed off onto colleagues and visitors alike.
He said: “It 's a privilege for me to be considered for this honour. After a tough couple of years for tourism due to the pandemic, this ambassador role helped me realise that my passion is to help people.
“Whether it was directions, helping people find a place to eat, or just a smile and wave to help them on their way, I loved every second of making someone 's day.
“This was my second time working at a Commonwealth Games. Being from Birmingham, as soon as it was announced that the Games were to take place in my home city, I had to be a part of it.
“Everywhere you went, the streets, squares and venues were busy and buzzing - it was brilliant to see people from around the world enjoying our region.
“If I won Tourism Superstar 2023, it would be an amazing achievement for the entire region, and another reason for celebration after having hosted the UK 's most successful Commonwealth Games. ”
A record 1.5 million tickets bought tickets for Birmingham 2022 making it the most popular Commonwealth Games ever to be hosted in the UK.
More than five million people visited Birmingham city centre during the two-week period of the Games.
Now in its 11th year, the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar competition acknowledges the dedication and passion of those working in the tourism industry.
Run in partnership with the Daily Mirror, the campaign celebrates those in the sector who go the extra mile to ensure tourists in England have an unforgettable visitor experience.
The winner of Tourism Superstar 2023 will be decided by a public vote, which is open now until 20 March.
The winner will be announced during English Tourism Week (17 to 26 March) on Saturday 25 March.
The winner will be presented with their award during the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence ceremony in June.
To learn more about Tourism Superstar and to vote for Navnit, click here.