The Lancashire Tourism Awards return to Blackburn Cathedral in 2016

Marketing Lancashire is proud to announce that the Lancashire Tourism Awards will once again take place in Blackburn Cathedral, the Cathedral of Lancashire, on Thursday 10 November, supported by Blackburn with Darwen Council.  The annual awards, celebrating excellence across a wide range of visitor economy businesses, reveal the brightest and best stars working in Lancashire tourism today, with many of the county’s winners then going on   to represent Lancashire at the national Visit England Excellence Awards.

(Picture shows Ruth Connor Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire with Ranvir Singh, presenter of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2015)

Cllr Phil Riley, Executive Member for Regeneration Blackburn with Darwen Council speaking about the news said,

“Blackburn with Darwen Council is delighted that the 2016 Lancashire Tourism Awards will be held at Blackburn Cathedral. It stands proudly at the heart of the developing Cathedral Quarter with its impressive open spaces and stunning new buildings, next to the new bus station. This summer will see other major events taking place.  This high quality, transformed quarter has been designed to encourage people to linger longer and come together to use the town centre for activities other than shopping. We hope even more people will come and visit and enjoy the changes for themselves.”

Marketing Lancashire is also delighted that the company’s strong partnership with University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), has led to a third successive year of support as Headline Sponsor of the Lancashire Tourism Awards.

Professor Richard Sharpley, UCLan Professor of Tourism, commenting on the relationship said,

“UCLan is once again proud to be a sponsor of the Lancashire Tourism Awards. These showcase the excellence of tourism, hospitality and events across the county and, as major centre for education and research in tourism in the North West, it is an honour for us to support the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2016”

2016 is a landmark year for the Cathedral of Lancashire, as extensive work to Blackburn town centre and the spaces in and around the Cathedral reach completion and Blackburn’s £30m Cathedral Quarter is born.

The Cathedral’s new £8.5m Cathedral Court will house offices, library, conference facilities and the recently announced Café Northcote, linked to the Cathedral by a glazed walkway connected to the south transept. It will also provide modern living accommodation for the Dean, Cathedral Canon and lay staff; making it the first residential cloister to be built in England in over 600 years.

One of the new cloister residents Canon Andrew Hindley, Canon Sacrist of Blackburn Cathedral added,

“I am delighted that we are once again the venue for the Lancashire Tourism Awards. We hope that as many people as possible will come and see the newly completed Cloister garth buildings and that these additional facilities will make this already stunning location, with is newly opened ‘Café Northcote at the Cathedral’, even more of a destination for people throughout the county and beyond.” 

Ruth Connor, Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire commenting on announcement of the venue said,

“After nearly nine decades of prayer and worship, the Cathedral of Lancashire in Blackburn, is now also a beacon of Lancashire hospitality, providing superb facilities for both leisure and business visitors.   Marketing Lancashire was one of the first businesses to hold an event in the Cathedral with the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2013, which people still talk about to this day.   We’re looking forward to returning in this landmark year and to working with the team at the Cathedral and Café Northcote on developing this wonderful, must-see Lancashire destination.”

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for the only dedicated awards celebration of tourism in Lancashire. To discuss ways your business can support Lancashire’s tourism event of the year please contact Maria Moriarty Eames, Head of Partnerships on 01772 426450 [email protected]

For more information and regular updates go to www.LancashireTourismAwards.com and follow #LTA16 on Twitter

ENDS

For more information on Marketing Lancashire please contact:

Anna Izza, Head of PR and Communications 01772 426 459

Laura Crabb, PR and Communications Executive 01772 426 456