Tourism Awards – The Winners

10 June 2009

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 at Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green. 

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

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.”

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 Media enquiries: Anna Izza, Communications Executive, Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board on 01257 226614 or [email protected]

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