Liverpool Cathedral provided the stunning backdrop for last night’s Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards (29 February).
Recognising excellence across the city region’s tourism and hospitality industry for 2023, the annual awards are delivered by Growth Platform – Liverpool City Region Growth Company.
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 their Aquatopia – The Blue and Yellow Submarine Parade – which kicked off the Eurovision celebrations last May.
The ‘Liverpool City Region Hidden Gem’ award – the only category voted for by the public, 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 over 35 years tourism experience in the city and who actively led the city’s marketing activity for Eurovision as Director of Marketing Liverpool and now a trustee at Shakespeare North Playhouse.
The evening was hosted by Leanne Campbell of Radio City and guests were welcomed with a drinks reception sponsored by Virgin Experience Days and Liverpool Football Club and entertainment from local choir Very Vocal.
Councillor Mike Wharton, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Business said:
“The Tourism Awards enable us to celebrate and showcase what the city region has to offer across the visitor economy. To see so many entries not only shows how prestigious these awards are but also the amount of healthy competition we have – which continues to push tourism standards up. As a growth sector this brings both economic benefits and increases the city region’s reputation. Huge congratulations to all the winners as well as the shortlisted businesses and individuals.”
Headline sponsor of the awards were Liverpool BID Company and their CEO, 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.”
Associate sponsors were Liverpool ONE and Lexus Liverpool. Category sponsors were ACC Liverpool, Bolland & Lowe, BDO LLP, City of Liverpool College, The Guide Liverpool, Hospitality Hero, Kimpton, Knowsley Safari, Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Merseyrail, National Museums Liverpool, PIB Insurance, Ticket Quarter, West Midlands Trains and Wild Thang.
The awards were also supported by Cool Breeze Events, Arts Bar Baltic, Liverpool Football Club, The Metro, MSP Global and Virgin Experience Days, with the charity partner Local Solutions My Time.
Full list of winners:
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