10 June 2009

Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Award Winners Announced

The 2009/10 Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards was a celebration of innovation and creativity, with winners and finalists sharing the limelight with broadcaster, writer and Lancashire champion, the brilliant and entertaining Stuart Maconie.

Further live entertainment was provided by star of TV and stage Craig Chalmers, who will be touring this August to the Grand Theatre Blackpool as Joseph in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, accompanied here by the students of Michael Hall Theatre School, Blackpool.  On arrival and during the lunch, guests were serenaded by the highly acclaimed Lancashire Sinfonietta.

Stuart presented each of the winners with their trophies and certificates at the biggest ever Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards, with almost 300 guests in attendance.
The winners and highly commended were announced as follows:

Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year – Sponsored by VisitBlackpool
Winner: The Ashton, Lancaster

Access for All Tourism Award – Sponsored by Robinsons Holidays
Winner: Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
Highly Commended: Grand Theatre, Blackpool

Sustainable Tourism Award – Sponsored by Natural Economy Northwest
Winner: Malkin Tower Farm Holiday Cottages, Blacko
Highly Commended: Number One, South Beach, Blackpool

Small Hotel of the Year – Sponsored by Lancashire County Developments Ltd
Winner:  Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Langho
Highly Commended:  West Tower Country House Hotel, Aughton

Large Hotel of the Year – Sponsored by Blackpool and the Fylde College
Winner: Preston Marriott Hotel
Highly Commended: The Midland Hotel, Morecambe

Best Tourism Event of the Year – Sponsored by Fat Media
Top Three voted by public vote
Winner - Blackpool Illuminations
2ndPlace - East Lancashire Railway 1940’s Weekend, Rawtenstall
3rd Place - Pendle Walking Festival
Continued >>

Taste Lancashire Award – Sponsored by Made in Lancashire and Food North West
Winner: La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn
Highly Commended: The Carmen Rose, Ribchester

Best Tourism Experience of the Year – Sponsored by Blackpool International Airport
Winner: Farmaggedon at Farmer Ted’s Farm Park, Ormskirk
Highly Commended: Ribble Valley Food Trail

Caravan Holiday Park and Holiday Village of the Year – Sponsored by Napthens Solicitors
Winner: Sunset Park, Hambleton
Highly Commended: Windy Harbour Holiday Park, Little Singleton

Business Tourism Award of the Year – Sponsored by Lancashire Economic Partnership
Winner: Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green

Self Catering Award – The Northwest Regional Development Agency
Winner: Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, Bashall Eaves

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sponsored by KPMG
Winner: Helmshore Mills Textile Museum

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Sponsored by University of Central Lancashire
Winner: Blackpool Tower and Circus
Highly Commended: WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Ormskirk

Commenting on the ceremony and finalists Mike Wilkinson said:

“Today was a day for celebrating great achievement in what we can’t deny have been challenging times.  Those working in tourism have retained their nerve and called upon all their creativity and resources to sustain and, in some cases, even increase business and visitor numbers. 

“In this year of the ‘staycation’ all our finalists and winners have shown tremendous strength of character and proved that with ingenuity, well-trained staff and great customer service that we can still achieve our shared goal, of making Lancashire and Blackpool a premier destination for domestic as well as overseas visitors.”

The Awards are supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), and many of the winners will now go on to represent Lancashire and Blackpool at the England’s Northwest Tourism Awards later this year.

Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the NWDA, added: “These awards recognise and reward the best of Lancashire’s tourism industry and I’d like to offer my congratulations to all of the winners.

“Lancashire consistently produces top quality entrants for the regional awards and I look forward to welcoming them to the England’s Northwest Awards later this year.”

<< ENDS >>

Media enquiries: Anna Izza, Communications Executive, Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board on 01257 226614 or aizza@lbtbltd.com
(Notes to Editors >>)
Notes to Editors

1. Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board (LBTB) was set up in April 2004. It supports tourism
businesses in the Lancashire and Blackpool sub-region by representing their interests regionally and nationally, by co-ordinating marketing activity, managing and developing the tourism product and working in partnership with industry. Activities in commercial membership, business development, `Welcome to Excellence` training, visitor services and marketing activity are all designed to improve quality and achieve common goals.

In 2007 the Lancashire and Blackpool area attracted 58 million visitors who contributed £2.9 billion to the local economy and helped support 54,161 jobs.

2. Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board is supported by the Northwest Regional Development
Agency (NWDA). The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:

• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life

www.nwda.co.uk, www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com

The Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board
St. George’s House    St.George’s Street   Chorley   PR7 2AA     Chair Lesley Lloyd
Tel. 01257 226600      Fax. 01257 469016                          Chief Executive Mike Wilkinson
www.lancashireandblackpool.com