Visit Lancashire in 2012

HEADING FOR THE BEACH

Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards 2011/12

Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board (LBTB) and visitBlackpool have joined forces to present the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards 2011/12 which will be held at the Paradise Room, Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool on Thursday 22 September 2011. 

The Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards are the county’s premier awards; they recognise the outstanding qualities and achievements of local tourism businesses, as well as the contribution they make to Lancashire’s £3 billion visitor economy.

In a change to previous years, winners from the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards 2011/12 will now go head-to-head with other destination winners for a national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, a route which had previously required success at the NWDA’s England’s Northwest Regional Awards.

Tony Openshaw, LBTB’s Marketing Director, commenting on this year’s awards said “This year, for the first time, Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Award winners will go on to compete directly with the very best tourism businesses in England in the national competition.  I ’m very proud to say that in recent years, Lancashire and Blackpool has walked away with a number of the most prestigious accolades.  I look forward to seeing some of our flagship businesses enjoying similar success next year.”

Councillor Graham Cain, Cabinet Member for Tourism & Culture at Blackpool Council said:

"Tourism is an essential part of Blackpool’s economy and we are delighted to be working with Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board to highlight the achievements of these businesses and of course to welcome the ceremony to Blackpool during the illuminations – a previous national award winner. It’s also a perfect opportunity to showcase Blackpool."

The awards this year comprise 17 categories from Small Hotel to Large Visitor Attraction, a new Marketing Campaign of the Year award and the ‘Making A Difference’ Award, highlighting the contribution of an unsung industry hero; offering all kind of businesses and individuals the chance to have their moment in the tourism spotlight.

Entry to the awards is FREE (certain criteria apply) with step 1 being the completion of the initial entry form, required by Wednesday 3 August 2011. The shortlisted businesses will then progress to stage 2, requiring the completion of the full entry form by the end August.

These entries will then be judged by a panel of industry professionals and invited experts and the winners announced at the event on 22 September 2011.

For more information on categories, criteria and to download the Step 1 initial entry form go to lancashireandblackpool.com or visitBlackpool.com/awards or contact Catherine Redshaw on 01257 226615 or [email protected]

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Media enquiries: Anna Izza, Communications Executive, Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board on 01257 226614 or [email protected].

Notes to Editors

1.  Lancashire’s National Award Winners 2011 Morecambe Visitor Information Centre winner of Tourist Information Service of the Year and Clough Bottom Farm Cottages winner of a Silver Award in the Sustainable Tourism category.  The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2011 were presented at an event in the Great Hall, University of Birmingham on Friday 15th April, 2011.

The title of the national awards has been changed from Enjoy England Awards for Excellence to VisitEngland Awards for Excellence. The next national awards taking place in 2012.