Tourism’s Best in Class – Apply Now!
Applications open today (13 June) for the annual Lancashire Tourism Awards #LTA16, celebrating tourism excellence and rewarding the achievements of industry colleagues across the county.
The winners of this year’s awards will be announced at a spectacular event to be held in Blackburn Cathedral, the Cathedral of Lancashire, on Thursday 10 November; organised by Marketing Lancashire and supported by Blackburn with Darwen Council, with the University of Central Lancashire as Headline Sponsor.
19 award categories, from Best Hotel to Small Visitor Attraction, offer a wide range of tourism businesses the opportunity to highlight their success and valuable contribution to Lancashire’s growing visitor economy sector. The visitor economy contributes £3.7 billion to Lancashire’s economy and provides employment for over 56 thousand people.
Two new categories make an appearance for 2016: Boutique Accommodation Award, which is aimed at more individually styled accommodation, offering a unique experience that sets it apart from its competitors; The Lancashire Producers & Makers Award celebrates producers or makers of authentic food & drink, artisan crafts or local products, that contribute to the visitor experience and champion Lancashire distinctiveness. The full list of categories, criteria and tips for applicants, plus the short application forms can be found at www.lancashiretourismawards.com
Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire said
“Lancashire’s tourism industry continues to grow and raise standards of excellence, meeting the demands and often exceeding the expectations of increasingly discerning and adventurous visitors. Over 63 million visitors already choose Lancashire for their shorts breaks and days out and as a sector, we aim to raise that to 70 million by 2020.
“Lancashire’s particular strengths lie in the appeal of our great outdoors and coastline, our authentic food and drink, our diverse heritage and vibrant culture, and in our reputation for genuine, warm hospitality.
“Each year the Lancashire Tourism Awards helps tease out some of the county’s real gems, reveals our best in class and celebrates our most successful tourism businesses in all these areas, providing a platform on which they can stand proud as the whole county acknowledges their huge achievement.”
Several winners of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2016, will then also have the chance to represent Lancashire in the national Visit England Awards for Excellence 2017. Last year’s Lancashire Tourism Award winners The Cartford Inn, in Little Eccleston (Tourism Pub Award), La Locanda Ristorante Italiano, in Gisburn (Taste Award), Morecambe Bay Cycle Way (Visitor Experience Award) and Browsholme Hall (Sustainable Tourism Award), were all winners at the Visit England Excellence Awards 2016, winning Silver (The Cartford Inn), Bronze (La Locanda) and Highly Commended (x2), for Lancashire.
You can apply for the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2016 from Monday 13 June.
For more information visit www.lancashiretourismawards.com and follow @MarketingLancs for regular updates and awards news on Twitter.
<<ENDS>>
For Media enquiries please contact:
Anna Izza, Head of PR and Communications 01772 426 459
Laura Crabb, PR and Communications Executive 01772 426 456