• International Tourism Award (NEW for 2024) sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport
• Accessible and Inclusive Tourism (NEW for 2024) sponsored by ACC Liverpool
• B&B and Guest House of the Year sponsored by Liverpool Cathedral
• Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
• Hotel of the Year sponsored by Liverpool BID Company
• Business Events Venue of the Year
• Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism Award sponsored by Kimpton
• New Tourism Business of the Year sponsored by BDO LLP
• Taste of Liverpool City Region – Restaurant sponsored by PIB Insurance
• Taste of Liverpool City Region – Café sponsored by Bolland & Lowe
• Pub of the Year sponsored by Wild Thang
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored by Ticket Quarter
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored by Virgin Experience Days
• Experience of the Year sponsored by Merseyrail
• Entertainment Venue of the Year sponsored by London Northwestern Railway
• Unsung Hero Award sponsored by Liverpool ONE
• Tourism Young Person of the Year
• Liverpool City Region’s Hidden Gem (Public Vote) sponsored by The Guide
• Outstanding Contribution to Tourism (awarded by the organisers)

The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards is one of the largest in the country and recognises and rewards businesses from our visitor economy. The awards celebrate the very best of what our region has to offer and we have a range of categories for businesses to apply for. Winners will go forward to the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence in June 2025.

Award entries are easy to complete and are open to all tourism and hospitality businesses across the Liverpool City Region across 19 different categories. You may enter as many categories as you wish as long as you are eligible. Please check the criteria.

The application process is set up through the OpenWater portal, where you will need to register for an account.

Read our ‘Top Tips’ for filling in your application form.

Please ensure you read the Terms and Conditions for entry before applying.

We use an independent panel of judges across two rounds of judging. Judges come from different backgrounds including marketing and training professionals, senior business leaders, as well as sustainability and accessibly experts.

The first round is online via the OpenWater portal. If you are successful in being shortlist the second round judging will consist of a mix of mystery shop visits, announced visits and/or interviews, depending on which category you apply for.

1 August 2024 – Applications Open
19 Sept 2024 – Applications Close
Followed by First Round Judging
17 Oct 2024 – Shortlist Announced
Followed by Second Round Judging/Mystery Shop
27 Feb 2025 – Tourism Awards Ceremony at Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool City Region Destination Welcome

Knowsley Safari

Tourism Young Person of the Year – sponsored by City of Liverpool College and Hospitality Hero
James Duckworth, Shakespeare North Playhouse

Highly Commended –  Amber Kinrade, Strawberry Field

Unsung Hero Award – sponsored by Liverpool ONE
Meg Terzza, Shakespeare North Playhouse

Highly Commended – Chris Duffy, Hilton Liverpool

B&B and Guest House of the Year – sponsored by Liverpool Cathedral

The Braemar Southport

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year – sponsored by National Museums Liverpool

Staybridge Suites Liverpool

Hotel of the Year – sponsored by Liverpool BID Company

Hope Street Hotel

Highly Commended –  Novotel Paddington Village

Business Events Venue – sponsored by ACC Liverpool

Spaces at The Spine

New Tourism Business Award – sponsored by BDO LLP

Shakespeare North Playhouse

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award – sponsored by Lexus Liverpool

Sunnyside Guest House

Highly Commended – Leonardo Hotels Liverpool

Independent Tourism Business of the Year – sponsored by Bolland & Lowe

Manifest

Highly Commended – Fab 4 Taxi Tours

Eurovision Experience of the Year – sponsored by West Midlands Trains

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

The Watering Can

Taste of Liverpool Award – Restaurant of the Year – sponsored by Knowsley Safari

The Art School

Pub of the Year – sponsored by Wild Thang

The Red Fox Thornton Hough

Entertainment Venue of the Year – sponsored by Kimpton

M&S Bank Arena

Special recognition –  Liverpool Philharmonic
Highly Commended – Future Yard

Experience of the Year – sponsored by Merseyrail

Liverpool Food Tours – A Taste of Liverpool Food Walking Tour

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Ticket Quarter

Strawberry Field

Highly Commended – Liverpool Beatles Museum

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool City Region Hidden Gem

The Bus Yard

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism – sponsored by Growth Platform

Chris Brown

View Awards Gallery