Liverpool’s tourist attractions honoured

LIVERPOOL attractions ranging from the shopping centre Liverpool One to the city’s Anglican cathedral won praise for their contribution to the regional economy last night.

They were honoured at The Mersey Partnership’s (TMP) Tourism Awards where more than 500 guests gathered at the BT Convention Centre on the city’s waterfront.

According to TMP, the tourist board for Merseyside, tourism is now worth £1.6bn a year to the Liverpool region.

Other winners included the Echo Arena, which won performance venue of the year, Acorn Farm, which picked up the prize for small visitor attraction, and the Hope Street Hotel, which won hotel of the year. The winners were picked by an independent panel.

David Andrews, director of visitor economy for TMP, said: “TMP’s Tourism Awards are an excellent way to recognise and reward the hard work undertaken by both small and large Visitor Economy businesses during the past 12 months. Individually they are all achieving notable success.

“Collectively, as part of our destination offer they are contributing to a great success story. These awards recognise that success and once again raise the profile of our destination and all it has to offer visitors.”

Eleven of the award winners are now eligible to go through to the England’s Northwest Tourism Awards organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) later this year, with the chance to represent the region in the national finals.

The winners were:

Excellence in Customer Service – Stuart Cockburn, Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa

Tourism Marketing Project of the Year – The Beatles Story

Performance Venue of the Year – Echo Arena Liverpool

Excellence in Business Tourism – Conference Centre at LACE       

Bar of the Year – The Wro Bar & Lounge

Taste Liverpool – 60 Hope Street

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – Acorn Farm

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – The Beatles Story

Self Catering Accommodation of the Year – Herons Well

Guest Accommodation of the Year – Knowsley Hall

Sustainable Tourism – Jurys Inn Liverpool

Tourism Retailer of the Year – Liverpool Cathedral          

Tourism Experience of the Year – Liverpool ONE

Tourism Event of the Year – A Winter’s Trail

Hotel of the Year – Hope Street Hotel