Mersey Partnership Tourism Awards 2009

The best businesses in Liverpool region’s £1.3bn a year visitor economy were honoured at The Mersey Partnership’s Annual Tourism Awards last night.

More than 520 guests joined the celebrations to recognise and reward the best of the best during a black tie dinner at the BT Convention Centre on the city’s UNESCO world heritage waterfront.

The Awards were organised by The Mersey Partnership (TMP) as the region’s official tourist boaard and this year’s event attracted record entries.

Eleven of tonight’s winners now go forward to represent the destination in North West regional awards and the chance to compete for national honours.

The annual event, organised by TMP and sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), Merseytravel, Liverpool ONE, ACC Liverpool and BBC Radio Merseyside, celebrates quality and excellence in a sector now supporting 23,000 jobs across the City Region. BBC TV presenter Ranvir Singh hosted the ceremony.

The winners were:

• The Mersey Partnership Special Award – Liverpool City Council for Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008
• Guest Accommodation of the Year – The Ambassador Town House, Southport – Highly Commended: Mere Brook House
• Self Catering Accommodation of the Year – Premier Apartments Liverpool
• Hotel of the Year – Malmaison Liverpool – Highly Commended: Crowne Plaza Liverpool
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year -Acorn Farm Knowlsey – Highly Commended: Mersey Tunnel Tours
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year – Liverpool Cathedral
• Excellence in Customer Service – Christina Dixon, Jurys Inn
• Excellence in Business Tourism – BT Convention Centre Liverpool
• Taste Liverpool – Delifonseca Liverpool
• Tourism Experience of the Year – National Museums Liverpool for Art in the Age of Steam – Highly Commended: Liverpool Biennial
• Tourism Event of the Year – Creamfields Halton
• Student in Hospitality & Tourism – Stephanie Arnold, St. Helens College
• Performance Venue of the Year – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
• Bar of the Year – Alma De Cuba Liverpool
• Tourism Marketing Project of the Year – National Museums Liverpool for Art in the Age of Steam
• Tourism Retailer of the Year – The Beatles Story Liverpool – Highly Commended: Lady Lever Art Gallery Shop
• Sustainable Tourism – Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool

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