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Manchester sweeps the board at England’s Northwest Tourism Awards
30th September 2010
Manchester swept the board at the England’s Northwest Tourism Awards last night – taking home five of the 16 awards up for grabs.
Manchester Art Gallery was named Large Visitor Attraction, while the Radisson Edwardian Hotel was awarded Large Hotel of the Year. Manchester Central Convention Complex took home the award for Business Tourism, while Chill Factore was awarded Tourism for All and the Manchester International Festival claimed Tourism Event.
Cherry Clough Farmhouse in Saddleworth was also ‘Highly Commended’ in the Bed and Breakfast category.
Organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), the 2010 England’s Northwest Tourism Awards once again celebrated the best of the region’s tourism sector, providing a showcase for industry best-practice and top-quality tourism businesses in Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester, Liverpool City Region and Cheshire.
The award ceremony took place at The Point at Lancashire County Cricket Club.
Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, the agency charged with promoting the city-region on a national and international stage, said: “It was a great night for Manchester. Our winners highlight three of our biggest strengths - business tourism, culture and sport.
“We can now look forward to representing the region in the VisitEngland national awards, where we will compete with other regional award winners. My congratulations to all the Manchester winners.”
A total of 16 accolades were presented to winners from across the region. In addition to receiving a prestigious title, regional winners will also have the opportunity to represent the Northwest in the national awards, organised by VisitEngland in 2011.
The winners were:
Bed & Breakfast: Number 43, Arnside, Cumbria
Holiday Park: Woodclose Park, Kirby Lonsdale, Cumbria
Self Catering: The Old Shippon at Mellor, Lancashire
Taste of England's Northwest: The Cottage in the Wood, Keswick, Cumbria
Tourism for All: Chill Factore, Trafford, Manchester
Tourist Information Centre: Morecambe Visitor Information Centre, Lancashire
Tourism Experience: Cumbrian Heavy Horses, Millom, Cumbria
Small Visitor Attraction: Chester Heritage Tours, Chester, Cheshire
Large Visitor Attraction: Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester
Excellence in Customer Service: Sandcastle Waterpark Team, Blackpool, Lancashire
Sustainable Tourism Award: Clough Bottom Farm Cottages, Clitheroe, Lancashire
Public Space Award: Dream, St Helens, Liverpool City Region
Tourism Event: Manchester International Festival, Manchester
Business Tourism: Manchester Central Convention Complex
Small Hotel: Overwater Hall, near Keswick, Cumbria
Large Hotel: The Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Manchester
Six judges’ commendations were also handed out on the night, in recognition of the exceptionally high standards in a number of the award categories.
Felicity Goodey, chair of Tourism England’s Northwest, said: “It just gets better and better. Each year we celebrate some of the best of our many outstanding businesses which, together, have established the Northwest as one of the most popular visitor destinations in the country. We are used to them going on to win national awards and I have every confidence that last night’s winners will be the ones to beat at the next National finals. The region owes them a big ‘thank you’. It’s their vision backed up by hard work, training and investment which have built tourism into one of this region’s most important industries.”
Nick Brooks-Sykes, director of tourism at the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) added: “Tonight’s event has been very special and all our winners should be very proud of their achievements. Tourism in England’s Northwest is marked by a quality and passion that will continue in the future, making the region a destination of choice.”
ENDS
