Time to enter – Lancashire Tourism Awards 2013
Marketing Lancashire has launched the all new Lancashire Tourism Awards 2013 which, in this their 10th anniversary year, will be the biggest tourism industry awards ever seen in the county.
The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2013 will take place on Thursday 7 November at Blackburn Cathedral and will be one of the cathedral’s first major corporate events. The awards will be hosted by tourism expert, broadcaster and Travel Editor of The Independent, Simon Calder.
Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire
“The tourism sector is crucial to the economic success of Lancashire, contributing £3.4 billion to the local economy, and is deserving of an awards event that recognises and rewards those who are at the forefront of their industry.
“This year is the 10th year of this celebration and the awards have been through a major overhaul, with more categories than ever before, a new judging process and a fantastic new landmark venue in Blackburn’s developing cultural quarter. We hope that colleagues from the sector, whether they enter the awards or not, will join us to celebrate the achievements of friends and fellow tourism businesses in this landmark year for the Lancashire Tourism Awards.”.jpg)
New categories introduced this year include awards for: Wedding Venue; Retail Experience; Luxury Experience; Cultural Venue/Organisation, as well as an award for those offering the best experience for Group travellers.
Ruth Connor adds “Lancashire has something for everyone, appealing to a wide range of visitors with many different motivations for visiting. So whether you’re from London, Lisbon or Longridge, there are 100s of reasons to visit. These new awards will highlight some increasingly popular and distinct areas of growth for the visitor economy and will give others the individual spotlight they truly deserve.”
Information on all the categories, application forms, as well as information for potential sponsors can be found on the new website www.lancashiretourismawards.co.uk
The full list of categories:
Accommodation:
1. B&B/Guest Accommodation Award*
2. Holiday Park Award*
3. Small Hotel Award*
4. Large Hotel Award*
5. Self-Catering Award*
Venues:
6. Conference/Meeting Venue Award*
7. Wedding Venue Award
8. Taste Lancashire Award*
9. Tourism Pub Award*
10. Retail Experience Award
11. Cultural Venue/Organisation Award
Attractions/Events:
12. Visitor Event Award*
13. Small Visitor Attraction Award*
14. Large Visitor Attraction Award*
Contribution to Tourism:
15. Green Tourism Award*
16. Best for Groups Award
17. Luxury Experience Award
18. Customer Service Award
19. Marketing Initiative Award
20. Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award
*Winners in these award categories will go forward to represent Lancashire at the VisitEngland Excellence Awards 2014.
Applications must be submitted by Monday 16 September with the shortlist announced on Thursday 3 October. Those shortlisted will then be invited to interview by the judging panel during the week of 14 October, when each business will have the opportunity to discuss their application in more detail.
Tickets for the event will go on sale in August from www.lancashiretourismawards.co.uk
For more information on sponsorship or applications
contact: Catherine Redshaw on 01772 426 465
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Media enquiries: Anna Izza, Communications Manager, Marketing Lancashire
01772 426 459 or [email protected]
Notes to Editors
1. Marketing Lancashire is the new name for Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board (from 1st April 2012)
Our activities in marketing and communications, commercial membership, `Welcome to Excellence` training and place marketing are all designed to grow the visitor economy and develop the destination as a great place to visit, live and work.
In 2012 Lancashire attracted 62 million visitors who contributed around £3.4 billion to the local economy and helped support 54,804 jobs.