Liverpool Cathedral provided the stunning backdrop on Thursday evening for the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards – with all the winners revealed. Tony McDonough reports
All the winners of the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards were revealed on Thursday evening at a ceremony at Liverpool Cathedral.
Recognising excellence across the city region’s tourism and hospitality industry for 2023, the annual awards are delivered by Growth Platform, the city region’s economic development agency.
Triple winner on the night was Shakespeare North Playhouse, taking home the accolades for New Tourism Business of the Year, Unsung Hero and Tourism Young Person of the Year.
The special Eurovision Experience of the Year award went to the Invisible Wind Factory for its Aquatopia – The Blue and Yellow Submarine Parade – which kicked off the Eurovision celebrations last May.
And the only category voted for by the public, the Hidden Gem Award, recognising the region’s best kept secret, went to The Bus Yard – two converted double decker buses operating in Crosby Marina and Liverpool ONE.
Other winners on the night included The Art School for Restaurant of the Year, The Red Fox in Thornton Hough for Pub of the Year and Strawberry Field for Small Visitor Attraction of the Year. The coveted Hotel of the Year went to Hope Street Hotel.
The Outstanding Contribution to Tourism award went to Chris Brown – for more than 35 years tourism experience in the city and who actively led the city’s marketing activity for Eurovision.
Leanne Campbell of Radio City was the host for the evening and guests were welcomed with a drinks reception sponsored by Virgin Experience Days and Liverpool Football Club and entertainment from local choir Very Vocal.
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Headline sponsor of the awards was Liverpool BID Company. Chief executive Bill Addy, said: “We are always delighted to sponsor the Tourism Awards as this sector is a vital economic driver in our region.
“The people and businesses who deliver this work deserve recognition, and we are so pleased for all of the sector winners. It has been such a strong and positive year for our tourism and visitor economy.
“We have seen this first hand, in the first operating year of the Accommodation BID, which provides a platform for the hotel and serviced accommodation sector.
“Eurovision is the major headline of course, but there have been incredible events and activity, day in and day out, to help make this city world class.”
Winners of the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards:
Tourism Young Person of the Year – sponsored by City of Liverpool College and Hospitality Hero
Winner: James Duckworth, Shakespeare North Playhouse
Highly commended: Amber Kinrade, Strawberry Field
Unsung Hero Award – sponsored by Liverpool ONE
Winner: Meg Terzza, Shakespeare North Playhouse
Highly commended: Chris Duffy, Hilton Liverpool
B&B and Guest House of the Year – sponsored by Liverpool Cathedral
Winner: The Braemar Southport
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year – sponsored by National Museums Liverpool
Winner: Staybridge Suites Liverpool
Hotel of the Year – sponsored by Liverpool BID Company
Winner: Hope Street Hotel
Highly commended: Novotel Paddington Village
Business Events Venue – sponsored by ACC Liverpool
Winner: Spaces at The Spine
New Tourism Business Award – sponsored by BDO LLP
Winner: Shakespeare North Playhouse
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award – sponsored by Lexus Liverpool
Winner: Sunnyside Guest House
Highly commended: Leonardo Hotels Liverpool
Independent Tourism Business of the Year – sponsored by Bolland & Lowe
Winner: Manifest
Highly commended: Fab 4 Taxi Tours
Eurovision Experience of the Year – sponsored by West Midlands Trains
Winner: Invisible Wind Factory presents Aquatopia – The Blue and Yellow Submarine Parade
Highly commended: National Museums Liverpool
Taste of Liverpool Award – Café/Bistro of the Year – sponsored by PIB Insurance
Winner: The Watering Can
Taste of Liverpool Award – Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Knowsley Safari
Winner: The Art School
Pub of the Year – sponsored by Wild Thang
Winner: The Red Fox Thornton Hough
Entertainment Venue of the Year – sponsored by Kimpton
Winner: M&S Bank Arena
Special recognition: Liverpool Philharmonic
Highly commended: Future Yard
Experience of the Year – sponsored by Merseyrail
Winner: Liverpool Food Tours – A Taste of Liverpool Food Walking Tour
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Ticket Quarter
Winner: Strawberry Field
Highly commended: Liverpool Beatles Museum
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Winner: Liverpool Cathedral
Liverpool City Region Hidden Gem
Winner: The Bus Yard
Outstanding Contribution to Tourism – sponsored by Growth Platform
Winner: Chris Brown