The Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards shortlist was officially announced today setting the stage for an exciting celebration of the region’s thriving tourism and hospitality sector.
An expert judging panel whittled down a record number of entries across 19 categories into the shortlist revealed today. The number and quality of entries reflects the continued growth of the city region’s tourism industry.
The finalists will now go forward to a glittering awards ceremony at Liverpool Cathedral on Thursday 27 February 2025.
Organised by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and supported by the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), the prestigious awards highlight the best of tourism and hospitality across the city region.
This year’s 19 categories include awards for accommodation providers, attractions, food and drink venues and new tourism businesses. New for this year are the Accessible & Inclusive Tourism award and the International Tourism award.
Fourteen of the winners will then go forward to the Visit England Awards for Excellence in June 2025.
Cllr Wharton, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Cabinet Member for Business, Investment and Trade said:
“Once again, we are delighted to have received so many entries for the Tourism Awards this year. With tourism now worth over £6bn to the Liverpool City Region these awards are a celebration of our city region’s thriving tourism industry and its enormous contribution to our economy. Year on year the support for the awards continues to grow as businesses recognise the value of being involved. In particular it is pleasing to see support for the two new categories – Accessible & Inclusive Tourism and the International Tourism Award. Special thanks go to our experienced panel of judges who have had a difficult job in shortlisting this year as the quality of entries have been so high.”
More than 60m people visited the city region in 2023, generating over £6bn for the local economy.
Bill Addy, Chief Executive at Liverpool BID Company and Headline Sponsor, said:
“As we prepare to gather together again to celebrate those working in our tourism industry and visitor economy it is a moment to think about how important these businesses, individuals and events are to our city region economy. It is not just jobs but experiences, welcomes, visits, special days out and cultural moments. Tourism is a vital ingredient in the business of the Liverpool City Region and its importance is something we just both celebrate and innovate to keep ourselves ahead of the game in such a competitive field.”
The ‘Liverpool City Region Hidden Gem’ category will also be back for 2024 and sponsored by The Guide Liverpool.
This category will be voted for by the public and will recognise the region’s ‘best kept secret’. Hidden Gems could be attractions, bars, restaurants, tours, or natural assets which are off the main tourism trail.
By nominating a ‘Hidden Gem,’ they could be catapulted into the Tourism Awards spotlight. Please click here to nominate your Hidden Gem.
The headline sponsor is Liverpool BID Company, with associate sponsor Liverpool ONE. Other confirmed sponsors and event partners are ACC Liverpool, Bolland & Lowe, BDO LLP, The Guide Liverpool, Kimpton, Knowsley Safari, Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool Football Club, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, London Northwestern, Merseyrail, MSP Global, My Time, National Museums Liverpool, PIB Insurance, Ticket Quarter, The Art School, The City of Liverpool College, The Metro, Virgin Experience Days and Wild Thang.
The full shortlist is:
B&B and Guest House of the Year
- The Bowden Lodge
- The Braemar Southport
- Sunnyside Guest House
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
- Garden by The Bay
- Happy Days Apartments
- Quest Apartments Liverpool City Centre
- Staybridge Suites Liverpool
- The Eden Warehouse
Hotel of the Year
- Hope Street Hotel
- Malmaison Liverpool
- Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village
- Pullman Liverpool
- The Municipal Hotel & Spa MGallery Liverpool
- Titanic Hotel Liverpool
Business Events Venue
- Aintree Racecourse
- Escape Live Liverpool
- Hilton Hotel Liverpool
- Rum Warehouse at Titanic Hotel
- Liverpool
Spaces at The Spine - The Lake House
New Tourism Business Award
- Arts Bar Baltic
- Blackstock Market
- Eureka! Science + Discovery
- Gravity Max Liverpool ONE
- Salt & Tar
- School Lane Hotel
Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award
- Eureka! Science + Discovery
- Liverpool Cathedral
- Liverpool Philharmonic
- Strawberry Field
- Sunnyside Guest House
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
- Future Yard
Liverpool - Philharmonic
- Liverpool Properties, National Trust
- NORD
- Sunnyside Guest House
- The Eden Warehouse
- Titanic Hotel Liverpool
International Tourism Award
- Hotel Anfield
- Liverpool Cathedral
- Liverpool Tourist Information Centre
- The Beatles Story
Taste of Liverpool Award – Café/Bistro of the Year
- Crosby Coffee
- Imagine More Café at Strawberry Field
- Museum of Liverpool Café
- The Bluecoat Café
- The Lake House
- The Watering Can
Taste of Liverpool Award – Restaurant of the Year
- Antonio’s Bar & Grill
- Chamber 36
- Delifonseca Dockside
- Fazenda Rodizio Bar & Grill
- Salt House Tapas
- Tik Taco
Pub of the Year
- The Bridewell
- The Jacaranda
- The One O’Clock Gun
- The Red Fox
- The Windmill Southport
Experience of the Year
- Fab 4 Taxi Tours
- Mersey Tunnel Tours
- National Trust, The Beatles’ Childhood Homes
- Reel Tours
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
- Liverpool Football Club Tours & Experiences
- Liverpool Cathedral
- National Trust, Speke Hall
- The Beatles Story
- World Museum Liverpool
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
- British Music Experience
- Port Sunlight Museum
- Royal Liver Building 360 Tour
- Sefton Park Palm House Preservation Trust
- Strawberry Field
Entertainment Venue of the Year
- Arts Bar Hope Street
- Albert’s Schloss
- Liverpool Philharmonic
- Salt & Tar
- Shakespeare North Playhouse
- The Liverpool Empire Theatre
Tourism Young Person of the Year
- Jack Frank, Hilton Hotel Liverpool
- Ellen Taylor, INNSiDE By Melia
- Philip Barnes, Mersey Ferries
- Erin Lorimer, Novotel Liverpool Paddington Village
- Liam Roberts, School Lane Hotel
- Tom Hughes, The Bus Yard
- Daisy Cooper, Titanic Hotel Liverpool
Unsung Hero Award
- Mark McKenna, Liverpool Tourist Information Centre
- Craig Cavanagh, Masons Liverpool
- Phil Witter, National Museums Liverpool
- Simon Osborne, National Trust
- Jean Milton, Port Sunlight Village Trust
- Bridget Mulroy, Shakespeare North Playhouse
- Veso Mihaylov, The Jacaranda/Jacaranda Baltic