The quality and variety of tourism offered in Sussex was shown off this week.

Many of the county's businesses won top honours at the Tourism ExSEllence Awards 2007, which was open to organisations from across the South East.

Brighton's new visitor information centre was named Tourist Information Centre of the Year, while Battle's Crowhurst Park won the Caravan Holiday Park award.

Some businesses in Brighton and Hove were highly commended in the Sustainable Tourism, Best Tourism Experience and Sports Tourism categories.

Elsewhere in Sussex, there was success for Rye's Fairacres Bed and Breakfast and Rye Lodge Hotel, Eastbourne's Ocklynge Manor and Ashdown Park Hotel and Country Club, near Forest Row, while 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield was runner-up in the Best Tourism Experience category.

The awards, organised by Tourism South East, attracted entries from Sussex, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Kent and the Isle of Wight.

Bob Collier, managing director of Tourism South East, said: "Tourism is a highly competitive global industry and requires continued investment in products and services.

"Businesses such as these play an essential role in helping to encourage more domestic and international visitors to enjoy and return to the South East."

Brighton's visitor information centre, next to the Royal Pavilion, was recognised for its outstanding customer service and partnership work with other businesses.

Brighton's varied range of tourism businesses did not go unnoticed, with a highly commended award for Tuc Tuc in the Best Tourism Experience category and success in the Sports Tourism category for sailing company Sailnet and outdoor sports centre Yellowave.

Meanwhile, the four-star Brighton House B&B, in Regency Square, a winner at this year's Brighton and Hove Business Awards, was highly commended in the Sustainable Tourism category.

Councillor Averil Older, vicechairman of the culture, recreation and tourism committee, said: "I'm proud of the tourism team who work so hard on promoting Brighton and Hove."

Some 8.5 million people visit Brighton and Hove each year, boosting the local economy by £400 million.