07 March 2008
England’s Northwest leads shortlist for English Tourism
‘Oscars’
Nine tourism businesses from across England’s Northwest have
been shortlisted in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence
2008. Organised by VisitBritain and sponsored by The Caravan
Club, the Awards will be held at Liverpool’s St George’s Hall on
23rd April. It will be the first time that the Awards have been
held outside London.
England’s Northwest this year boasts more shortlisted entrants
than any other English region, highlighting the strength of the
region’s tourism industry. They are:
Boltongate Old Rectory, Cumbria (www.boltongateoldrectory.com)
- shortlisted for Bed & Breakfast of the Year
Sunset Park Holiday Homes, Hambleton (www.sunsetpark.co.uk) -
shortlisted for Caravan Park of the Year
Hillbark Hotel, Royden Park, Wirral (www.hillbarkhotel.co.uk) –
shortlisted for Small Hotel of the Year
Radisson Edwardian, Manchester (www.radissonedwardian.com)
– shortlisted for Large Hotel of the Year
Stone Cottage, Penrith (www.lakelandstonecottage.co.uk)
– shortlisted for Self-Catering Holiday of the Year
Liverpool 08 Place, Liverpool (www.visitliverpool.com) –
shortlisted for Tourist Information Centre of the Year
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle (www.tulliehouse.co.uk) –
shortlisted for Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Manchester Central, Manchester (www.manchestercentral.co.uk)
– shortlisted for the Business Tourism Award
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Liverpool (www.liverpoolphil.com) –
shortlisted for Tourism Website of the Year
The finalists were selected from over a 100 regional winners and
were rigorously assessed by a team of judges to make it through to
the national final. All of the shortlisted businesses had
previously won at the England’s Northwest Tourism Awards, organised
by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), and prior to
that had come out on top at their sub-regional awards.
Last year England’s Northwest came away from the national awards
with a record four winners.
Felicity Goodey, Chair of Tourism England’s Northwest,
said:
“This is terrific news for the region. Last year we swept the
board for all the main accommodation categories, winning the
national titles for large and small hotels, caravan park and bed
and breakfast of the year. To have so many of our facilities
shortlisted for the national awards again this year
recognises the fact that this region is now offering visitors some
of the best service and accommodation in the country.
“2008’s Awards will be made all the more special by the fact
that they are being held for the first time outside London. We are
looking forward to welcoming all of the finalists to Liverpool, the
European Capital of Culture. We look forward to seeing some
of our finalists go on to achieve the national recognition that
they richly deserve.”
The finalists were selected by a board of tourism industry
judges including Nick Cust, a member of the VisitEngland board, and
travel journalist Alison Rice.
Also on the judging panel was Brian Richardson, Executive
Secretary of The Caravan Club who said:
“Each year we are faced with an even tougher challenge as standards
continue to improve. What sets these awards apart is the fact that
all the regional winners are assessed anonymously by independent
inspectors according to a strict criteria of excellence, and we
feel that the results are an honest reflection of the very best
that England has to offer.”
-ends-
For further information please contact Helen Batte, Tourism
Press Officer on 01925 400235 or 07764 239856 or Helen.Batte@nwda.co.uk
For further information and to view previous press releases
visit us at www.nwda.co.uk