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21 September 2009

Finalists compete for Northwest Tourism Awards

On Monday 28th September the region’s top tourism businesses will be vying to be named the best in the Northwest at the sixth annual England’s Northwest Tourism Awards.

The prestigious event is organised by theNorthwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and aims to drive up the quality of the visitor experience across the region by rewarding excellence in the tourism industry.

This year’s event will be held at Blackpool’s famous Tower Ballroom and will be hosted by BBC North West Tonight presenter Ranvir Singh.

Many of the finalists have already come out on top at their sub-regional tourism awards and will now be competing at a regional level for the title of the best in the Northwest.

In addition to receiving a prestigious title and trophy, regional winners will also have the opportunity to represent the Northwest in the national awards, organised by VisitEngland in April 2010.

Last year England’s Northwest won two gold awards at national level, with Rheged near Penrith coming away with the Business Tourism Award and Augill Castle near Kirkby Stephen named Bed and Breakfast of the Year.

Felicity Goodey, Chair of Tourism England’s Northwest, said:

“The  Northwest Tourism Awards have set a very high benchmark for the industry over the past few years, with many of our winners going on to triumph at the national awards. We know that we have some of the UK’s best tourism businesses here in the region and these awards recognise and reward the leaders in what is a very competitive industry, worth more than £13 billion to England’s Northwest.

“These businesses are delivering outstanding quality as well as value for money and even in the present economic climate they continue to be some of the most sought after.  All of the finalists are winners in their own areas, but perhaps more importantly they are setting the standards for others to follow.”

Nick Brooks-Sykes, Director of Tourism at the NWDA, added:

“Tourism is hugely important to the Northwest and the NWDA is committed to helping the industry increase its competitiveness. These awards play an important role in encouraging quality and healthy competition as well as helping us to benchmark our performance against the rest of England.”

-ends-

Notes to editors

Finalists in the England’s Northwest Tourism Awards are winners from each of the sub-regional tourism awards.

England’s Northwest Tourism Awards finalists:

Large Hotel of the Year

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester

Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, Cumbria

Preston Marriott Hotel, Preston, Lancashire

The Lowry Hotel, Manchester

Malmaison Liverpool, Liverpool

 

Small Hotel of the Year

Peckforton Castle, Tarporley, Cheshire

Gilpin Lodge Country House Hotel, Windermere, Cumbria

Mytton Fold Hotel and Golf Complex, Langho, Nr Blackburn, Lancashire

 

Bed and Breakfast of the Year

Harrop Fold Farm, Macclesfield, Cheshire

Storrs Gate House, Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria

The Ashton, Lancaster, Lancashire

Brooklands Lodge, Sale, Greater Manchester

The Ambassador Townhouse, Southport, Merseyside

 

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire

Walby Farm Park, near Carlisle, Cumbria

Blackpool Tower and Circus, Blackpool

Imperial War Museum North, Manchester

Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Liverpool

 

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich, Cheshire

Wordsworth House and Garden, Cockermouth, Cumbria

Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, Helmshore, Lancashire  

Museum of the Manchester Regiment, Manchester

Acorn Farm, Liverpool

 

Self Catering Holiday of the Year

Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire

Hall Hills, Dalston, near Carlisle, Cumbria

Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, near Clitheroe, Lancashire

Blue Rainbow Apartments, Manchester

Premier Apartments Liverpool, Liverpool

 

Holiday Park of the Year

Castlerigg Hall Caravan and Camping Park, Keswick, Cumbria

Sunset Park, Hambleton, near Blackpool

 

Business Tourism Award

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester

Warwick Mill Business Village, near Carlisle, Cumbria

Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green, near Blackpool

The Lowry Hotel, Manchester

BT Convention Centre, Liverpool

 

Taste of England’s Northwest

Walk Mill, Chester

Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop, Kendal, Cumbria

La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, Gisburn, Lancashire

The Modern, Manchester

Delifonseca, Liverpool

 

Tourism Experience of the Year

Roman Tours, Chester

Silverband Falconry, Penrith, Cumbria

Farmaggedon, near Ormskirk, Lancashire

Costumed Performers, Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester

Art in the Age of Steam, National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool

 

Customer Service Award

Janet Bradshaw, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire

Jennifer Taylor, The Archway Guest House, Windermere, Cumbria

Hannah Lee, The New Holly, near Preston

Mahendran Mayan, Renaissance Hotel, Manchester

Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn Hotel, Liverpool

 

Sustainable Tourism Award

Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa, near Chester

Langdale Leisure Ltd, Ambleside, Cumbria

Malkin Tower Farm Holiday Cottages, Blacko, Lancashire

Radisson SAS Hotel Manchester Airport, Greater Manchester

Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool, Liverpool

 

Tourism for All Award

Kerridge End Holiday Cottages, Macclesfield, Cheshire

Ullswater Steamers, Glenridding, Cumbria

Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool

The Trafford Centre, Greater Manchester

 

Tourism Event

Nantwich Food and Drink Festival, Cheshire

Westmorland County Agricultural Show, Milnthorpe, Cumbria

Blackpool Illuminations, Blackpool

Manchester Pride, Manchester

Creamfields, Merseyside

 

Public Space Award

Cockermouth Market Place Regeneration Scheme, Cumbria

County Square Environmental Enhancement Scheme, Ulverston, Cumbria

Pier Head Public Realm and Canal Link, Liverpool

 

Tourist Information Centre of the Year

Congleton TIC, Cheshire

Coniston TIC, Cumbria

Cleveleys TIC, Lancashire

Wigan TIC, Greater Manchester

St Helens TIC, Merseyside

 

Travel Journalist of the Year

Chris Moss, Time Out

Craig Fleming, Blackpool Gazette

David Atkinson, Freelance

Paul Croughton, The Sunday Times

Stephen McClarence, The Observer

 

For further information please contact Helen Batte, Tourism Press Officer on 01925 400235 or 07764 239856 or Helen.Batte@nwda.co.uk  

For urgent out of hours press enquiries please call 01925 400259.

For further information and to view previous press releases visit us at www.nwda.co.uk  

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

 

Investing in England's Northwest (link opens in a new window)