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Awards All
Round for Merseyside’s £1bn Tourism Stars
MERSEYSIDE on
Friday, 19 May 2006 celebrated its worldwide appeal to tourists and
visitors by honouring Liverpool City Region’s finest tourism
businesses at The Mersey Partnership’s Annual Tourism Awards.
Representatives of the region’s hotels, visitor attractions,
conference venues, bars, pubs and restaurants were among 500 guests
at a lavish Black Tie Awards Dinner at St George’s Hall.
Liverpool-born TV celebrity Les Dennis hosted the evening with
assistance from BBC Radio Merseyside Presenter Roger Phillips.
The Awards was organised by The Mersey Partnership, the region’s
designated Tourist Board, and sponsored by Merseytravel in
association with the Northwest Regional Development Agency,
Liverpool John Lennon Airport and ITV Granada. The Awards’ official
media partner is the Liverpool ECHO.
The spectacular entertainment reflecting 2006 as Liverpool’s Year of
Performance in preparation for the city’s reign as European Capital
of Culture in 2008 topped the bill at the Awards ceremony.
Guests also saw the first screening of a new film produced by ITV
Granada on behalf of The Mersey Partnership. The short promotional
film, based on a visitor’s journey through the region, features many
of Merseyside’s award-winning tourist attractions and locations. It
will be shown at a variety of travel trade shows and fairs
throughout Europe and the USA.
Martin King, Director of Tourism at The Mersey Partnership said:-
“This is another memorable landmark for our Tourism Industry that
is now worth more than £1billion to the City Region’s economy. We
salute and celebrate the achievements of those who are making such a
fantastic contribution to our efforts to ensure Liverpool and
Merseyside becomes a genuinely world class visitor destination.
It’s no exaggeration to say the eyes of Europe and the rest of the
world are once again falling on Liverpool and Merseyside as we
prepare to celebrate Liverpool’s 800th birthday and the city’s year
as European capital of Culture. These are tremendously important,
and exciting, opportunities for everyone involved in tourism on
Merseyside. And before those massive celebrations start, Wirral will
play host to the magnificent Open Golf Championship in a little over
10 weeks’ time. That’s another great opportunity for us to show off
Merseyside’s unique appeal to visitors from all over the world. All
in all, there has never been a more exciting time for the region’s
Tourism industry.”
The Mersey Partnership Annual Tourism
Awards Winners:-
Large Hotel:- Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa,
Wirral.
Award sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport and presented by
Robin Tudor, General Manager, Corporate and Community Affairs, LJLA.
Also Short Listed:-
Holiday inn, Liverpool City Centre
Radisson SAS Hotel, Liverpool
________________________________
Small Hotel:- Hope Street Hotel, Liverpool.
Award sponsored by Eviivo and presented by Simon Walsh, Chief
Operating Officer.
Also Short Listed:-
The Alicia Hotel, Liverpool
Regent Maritime Hotel, Bootle
________________________________
Bed & Breakfast of the Year:- At Peel
Hey Country Guest House, Wirral
Award sponsored by Liverpool Empire theatre and presented by Hannah
Collins, General Manager.
Also Short Listed:-
Aachen Hotel, Liverpool
Bay Tree House, Southport
________________________________
Taste of Merseyside:- The London Carriage Works, Liverpool
Award sponsored by Live ‘smart and presented by Richard Dutton,
Chief Executive.
Also Short Listed:-
Ego Restaurant, Liverpool
The Racquet Club and Ziba Restaurant, Liverpool
________________________________
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year:- World of Glass, St Helens
Award sponsored by ITV Granada and presented by Jannine Donaghy,
Local Sales Manager.
Also Short Listed:-
Acorn Venture Farm, Knowsley
National Wildflower Centre, Knowsley
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Large Visitor Attraction of the Year:- World Museum, Liverpool
Award sponsored by Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales and
presented by Sara Wilde, Regional Managing Director
Also Short Listed:-
Pleasureland, Southport
The Beatles Story, Liverpool |
Tourism Website of the Year:- The
Beatles Story, Liverpool
Award sponsored by New Mind Internet Consultancy Ltd and presented
by Richard Veal, Director.
Also Short Listed:-
Albert Dock Company, Liverpool
Mersey Ferries, Liverpool
________________________________
Business Tourism Award:- Foresight Centre – University of Liverpool
Award sponsored by Virgin Trains and presented by Andrew May
Regional Sales Manager
Also Short Listed:-
The Conference Centre at LACE, Liverpool
The Liverpool Gateway Conference Centre, Liverpool
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Small Tourism Business:- The Liverpool Gateway Conference Centre,
Liverpool
Award sponsored by Business Link for Greater Merseyside and
presented by Jo Bowen-Jones Enterprise Development Director
Also Short Listed:-
International Inn, Liverpool
The Beatles Story, Liverpool
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Best Tourism Experience:- Another Place by Antony Gormley at Crosby
Beach, Sefton
Award sponsored by Merseytravel and presented by Alan Stilwell
Director of Operations
Also Short Listed:-
British Musical Fireworks Championship, Southport
Merseyfest, Merseyside-wide
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Best Small Event:- Da Da Fest, Liverpool.
Award sponsored by Finch and presented Norah Kelly Account Manager
Also Short Listed:-
The Northwest Masters, Aintree and Haydock Racecourses
Southport International Jazz Festival, Southport
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Best Bar:- Fly In The Loaf Public House, Liverpool
Award sponsored by visitliverpool.com and presented by Martin King,
Director of Tourism
Also Short Listed:-
Alma De Cuba, Liverpool
Thomas Rigby’s, Liverpool
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Performing Venue:- Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Award sponsored by BBC Radio Merseyside and presented by Mick Ord,
Managing Editor
Also Short Listed:-
Liverpool Empire Theatre, Liverpool
Unity Theatre, Liverpool
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Tourism for All:- Spaceport, Wirral
Award sponsored by Northwest Regional Development Agency and
presented by Nick Brooks-Sykes, Head of Tourism Marketing, NWDA.
Also Short Listed:-
Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse, Liverpool
National Wildflower Centre, Knowsley
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Apprentice of the Year:- Kate Yates, Fly In The Loaf Public House,
Liverpool
Award sponsored by Learning and Skills Council and presented by
Elaine Bowker Executive Director
Also Short Listed:-
Anna Jamieson, Holiday inn Liverpool City Centre, Liverpool
Rebecca Coughlan Holiday Inn Liverpool City Centre, Liverpool
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Outstanding Customer Service Awards:-
Lesley Dann, Foresight Centre – University of Liverpool, Liverpool
Judith Rogers, The Glass House, St Helens
Nigel Piper, Lino’s Restaurant, Wirral
Linda Peacock, Debenhams, Southport
Award sponsored by Liverpool Culture Company and presented by Cllr
Warren Bradley, Leader, Liverpool City Council.
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