VisitEngland has announced the 10 finalists to make the shortlist of its annual search to find the unsung hero of England’s tourism industry, with Wildheart Animal Sanctuary’s Zeb Fisher making the cut.
The Tourism Superstar competition, now in its 13th year, seeks out champions working in tourism who provide the most memorable experiences for visitors, as well as showcasing the variety and quality of England’s tourism offer and destinations.
Zebaria Fisher from Sandown-based Wildheart Animal Sanctuary is the only person to be shortlisted from the Isle of Wight.
Zeb, who is the attraction’s Learning & Discovery Manager, has been instrumental in promoting the Sanctuary through various media channels to help engage and connect visitors with the animals at the park. She has also been instrumental in improving the accessibility offer to ensure more inclusivity.
VistEngland’s Tourism Superstar 2025 finalists are:
- Andy Yeoman, Dartmoor Zoo, Devon
- Wendy Wilshere, 11Arches/Kynren, County Durham
- Zeb Fisher, Wildheart Animal Sanctuary, Isle of Wight
- Ben Francis, ROARR!, Norfolk
- Steve Johnson, Scarborough North Bay Railway, North Yorkshire
- Max Sadgrove, Adventure Island, Essex
- Graham Barclay, Adam Henson’s Cotswold Park Farm, Gloucestershire
- Southampton Saints, City of Southampton Port, Hampshire
- Hannah Clapp, Muncaster Castle, Gardens & Estate, Cumbria
- The team at Leicester Museums & Galleries, Leicestershire
The finalists were selected out of dozens of submissions from employers and destinations across England covering all areas of tourism. The public will be able to vote for their favourite superstar on VisitEngland’s website from mid-February 2025 when the competition officially opens.
Voting runs until the end of English Tourism Week (ETW). ETW takes place from 14th-23rd March 2025.
Lee Saudan, Head of Marketing at Wildheart Animal Sanctuary said:
“We are so incredibly proud of our Head of Learning and Discovery, Zeb Fisher for her selection as a finalist!
“Zeb has been a vital part of our team for almost 3 years, during which time she, together with her team, have grown and developed our education and group offering, bringing the animal world to life in a fun and engaging way for so many, whilst highlighting the plight that our animals face across the globe.
“For her to be recognised for all of her efforts in this way means the world to us, she is already a Superstar to us!”
Will Myles, Managing Director at Visit Isle of Wight, adds:
“To be shortlisted again in the fantastic VisitEngland Tourism Superstar Awards, the Isle of Wight has shown that it has the quality of people and product available here.
“Congratulations to Zeb for making it to this stage. It is, in itself, an amazing achievement. We hope that Islanders will support Zeb and the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary by voting online when the website goes live in February”.
Andrew Stokes, Director of VisitEngland, says:
“Tourism Superstar provides the public with an opportunity to celebrate individuals within England’s tourism industry who go above and beyond time-after-time to give visitors truly exceptional experiences. From creating memorable stays in castles to showcasing England’s brilliant museums and art galleries, from running animal sanctuaries that connect people with nature to providing fantastic experiences on heritage railways, the finalists truly go the extra mile in their role as tourism ambassadors.
“We have the most fantastic, passionate people working in England’s tourism industry who continually raise the customer service bar. We congratulate the 10 finalists and wish them every success in the competition, though of course they are all superstars already. Please do show your support for our outstanding finalists and cast your votes once the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar public competition opens.”
For more information on VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar 2025 finalists go to https://www.visitbritain.org/working-us/visitenglands-tourism-superstar-award.
Well done Zeb