New Finalists and an exciting new venue announced for the 2022 Lancashire Tourism Awards
Today (Monday 3rd October 2022), Marketing Lancashire, the county’s tourist board and destination management organisation, announced the remaining finalists in the annual Lancashire Tourism Awards, which will now see around 65 businesses from across Lancashire progressing to the next stage of the competition in 21 categories.
In addition, Marketing Lancashire is delighted to announce that the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2022 will be held in the newly developed, state of the art purpose built event space the Blackpool Conference and Exhibition Centre on Tuesday 7 February 2023. The ceremony will bring together 400 guests from across Lancashire’s leisure and hospitality industry as well as guests and stakeholders.
Rachel McQueen, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire commenting on this year’s awards, said: “To see so many quality events returning after the last 2 years and entering the awards is true testament to the determination of the industry to bounce back and create incredible experiences for visitors and residents of the county. If there was ever a good sign that Lancashire tourism is bouncing back, it is in the calibre and creativity of this year’s finalists in the Lancashire Tourism Awards.
“The Blackpool Conference and Exhibition Centre is the first major building development to happen on the Winter Gardens complex since the construction of the Opera House in 1939 and is one of the largest venues of its kind in the north of England. The level of investment which has gone into the facility, leading the way for even bigger conferences and exhibitions to take place right here in Lancashire is incredible and we are excited to be holding the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2022 there.
“Lancashire’s tourism and hospitality businesses are nothing short of remarkable in their resilience and innovation and we look forward to celebrating with all the finalists and our supporters at this stand-out event in the new year.”
Announcing their support as Destination Sponsor, Visit Blackpool, Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “We are delighted that the Lancashire Tourism Awards are coming back to Blackpool, the UK’s most popular seaside destination. For us, tourism is a billion pound industry and one that supports tens of thousands of local jobs. I can’t think of a better place to celebrate the best that the county has to offer.
“We look forward to welcoming guests to our new Conference and Exhibition Centre within the Winter Gardens – it will provide a magnificent setting to showcase business excellence.”
The finalists announced today will now join finalists in 17 categories announced earlier in the year going through to the next stages of the competition which includes a presentation and interview with a panel of judges for all shortlisted entrants.
The judges are experts drawn from the tourism and hospitality sector and from a wide range of successful business backgrounds including the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2022 Headline Sponsor, UCLan and category sponsors: DFC, Harrison Drury, insight6, Lancashire Business View, Lancaster University Management School, Links Signs & Graphics, Northern Print Distribution Ltd, The Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business and Total Foodservice.
The finalists announced today:
Large Event of the Year Award
British Textile Biennial, East Lancashire
Christmas by the Sea, Blackpool
Highest Point Festival, Lancaster
Santa Specials at East Lancashire Railway
Small Event of the Year Award
British Country Music Festival, Blackpool
Chorley Flower Show
Dino Fest, Lancaster
Pumpkin Festival at Ridgeway Farm, Blackpool
Thornton Hall Christmas Adventure, Thornton-in-Craven
Taste Lancashire Producer Award
Brindle Distillery, Chorley
Goosnargh Gin
Lancaster Brewery Spirits Company
Morecambe Bay Chowder
Unsung Hero Award
Jenna Bullows, Assistant Manager, The Whitehall Hotel and Distillery
Sharon Jones, Hall Director, Samlesbury Hall
Jeremy Rowlands, Owner, PLAU
To view a full list of all finalists go to lancashiretourismawards.com . You can also keep up to date with all the Lancashire Tourism Awards news by following @MarketingLancashire on Twitter and #LTA22.