19 June 2009

Top Honours for the Very Best In Liverpool City Region’s £1.3bn Visitor Economy

The best businesses in Liverpool City Region’s £1.3bn a year visitor economy have been honoured at The Mersey Partnership’s Annual Tourism Awards held on Thursday, June 18th.

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 City Region’s Official Tourist Board and this year’s event attracted record entries.

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

Presentations made tonight included a Special Award from TMP to Liverpool City Council in recognition of the outstanding success of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture 2008.

The Award was presented to Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council, by TMP Chair Mr Rodney Holmes.

Mr Holmes said: “Liverpool City Council and Liverpool Culture Company created and delivered one of the most amazing European Capital of Culture years yet staged. Liverpool demonstrated unprecedented collaboration between private and public sectors; individuals and organisations; cultural partners and artists, all working together to achieve a shared ambition.”

He added: “Liverpool once again captured interest and imagination around the world – transforming outdated perceptions outside the city and bringing new found self-confidence within.

“The popular appeal of Liverpool Culture Company’s specially-commissioned 2008 events, from the spectacular Opening Weekend celebrations to the return of Sir Paul McCartney at Anfield Stadium; the Tall Ships on the Mersey; Go Superlambananas and La Machine, complemented highlights arranged by the region’s established cultural organisations who are now maintaining the momentum generated during 2008.

“As Liverpool City Region’s Official Tourist Board, and on behalf of its Members, TMP is proud to recognise all of these achievements in this Special Award. And we are delighted that our event tonight is taking place at a venue that embodies the successful regeneration of the city, equipping it with new confidence and new opportunity. ACC Liverpool – under the leadership of its Chief Executive Bob Prattey – is making an enormous contribution to the success we are here to celebrate tonight.”

Accepting the Award, Cllr Bradley said: "This is a special award to recognise a very special year in Liverpool's history. Very many individuals and organisations contributed to the success and it is fitting that they should have their work publicly acknowledged. I am delighted that we are being honoured in these Tourism Awards and it will spur us on to build on the success we achieved in 2008."

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.

Presentation of the Awards marks the culmination of a lengthy and comprehensive judging process.

All entries were initially assessed by a panel of senior business figures and representatives from other Tourist Boards. This panel compiled a shortlist of entrants considered eligible to be entered in the second round of judging.

Businesses and organsations judged to merit a place in the second round were then visited and assessed by specially-trained researchers acting as “Mystery Shoppers” who completed written reports detailing their experiences at each finalist.

These reports, together with the finalists’ original entry documentation, were then presented to a second panel of independent judges with no previous involvement in this year’s Awards.

TMP Chief Executive Lorraine Rogers said: “Tourism is a powerful driver of this region’s economic prosperity and these Awards are all about recognising excellence in this important sector.”

She added: “The outstanding success of Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008 has given the region the foundation on which to build for further job creation and wealth generated by our visitor economy.  TMP and its Tourism Members and Partners will continue to play a major part in the success we are celebrating tonight.”

Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the NWDA, said:

“I’d like to offer my congratulations to all of the winners today; they are a reflection of the hard work and commitment that made Liverpool ‘08 such a success and are helping tourism to thrive in the Northwest. Quality is the key to success in this industry and these winners are helping to raise the benchmark. I look forward to seeing them at the regional awards in later this year.”

A second Special Award was made to the NWDA’s departing Director of Tourism James Berresford who has championed the region’s tourism assists for 5 years and is soon to take up a new national post as Chief Executive of Visit England.

The Winners Follow.

The Mersey Partnership
Annual Tourism Awards 2009 – Winners

The Mersey Partnership Special Award

Liverpool City Council for Liverpool European Capital of Culture 2008

Guest Accommodation of the Year
Sponsored by Business Link Northwest

The Ambassador Town House, Southport. www.ambassadortownhouse.com

Judges Comment: “A jewel of a guest house that meets expectations normally only associated with a large hotel.”

Highly Commended: Mere Brook House

Self Catering Accommodation of the Year
Sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency

Premier Apartments Liverpool. www.premierapartmentsliverpool.com

Judges Comment: “A great effort to personalise the service they provide, demonstrating considerable commitment to comfort.”

Hotel of the Year
Sponsored by Liverpool Vision

Malmaison Liverpool. www.malmaison-liverpool.com

Judges Comment: “We were particularly impressed with the quality of staff and the high level of service they gave.”

Highly Commended: Crowne Plaza Liverpool

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sponsored by Hilton Liverpool

Acorn Farm Knowlsey. www.acornfarm.co.uk

Judges Comment: “Acorn Farm has listened to its customers. An admirably presented submission.”

Highly Commended: Mersey Tunnel Tours

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Sponsored by Travel GBI

Liverpool Cathedral. www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk

Judges Comment: “This was an impressive entry with strong and well-organised supporting material. Liverpool Cathedral is a place that exceeds expectations.”

Excellence in Customer Service
Sponsored by Greater Merseyside Learning Providers’ Association

Christina Dixon – Jurys Inn. www.jurysinns.com

Judges Comment: “Christina really stood out as being a great ambassador for the city.”

Excellence in Business Tourism
Sponsored by New Mind

BT Convention Centre Liverpool. www.accliverpool.com

Judges Comment: “The sheer scale and substance of what’s on offer in the state-of-the-art BT Convention Centre is most impressive.”

Taste Liverpool
Sponsored by Liverpool ONE

Delifonseca Liverpool. www.delifonseca.co.uk

Judges Comment: “Judges immediately got an impression of a restaurant dedicated and passionate about what it sets out to do.”

Tourism Experience of the Year
Sponsored by Merseytravel

National Museums Liverpool for Art in the Age of Steam. www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Judges Comment: “A hugely successful fine art exhibition attracting significant levels of visitors from outside the region.”

Highly Commended: Liverpool Biennial

Tourism Event of the Year
Sponsored by Norfolkline

Creamfields Halton. www.creamfields.com

Judges Comment: “Creamfields has rightly taken its place as an iconic feature of the youth scene. A well thought out entry.”

Student in Hospitality & Tourism
Sponsored by Learning & Skills Council Greater Merseyside

Stephanie Arnold St. Helens College. www.sthelens.ac.uk

Performance Venue of the Year
Sponsored by BBC Radio Merseyside

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. www.liverpoolphil.com

Judges Comment: “Liverpool Philharmonic Hall offers a truly diverse programme of performances encompassing many art forms.”

Bar of the Year
(Not Sponsored)

Alma De Cuba Liverpool. www.alma-de-cuba.com

Judges Comment: “A high class bar with a quality touch and a winner all the way.”

Tourism Marketing Project of the Year
Sponsored by BT Convention Centre

National Museums Liverpool for Art in the Age of Steam. www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Judges Comment: “This was a great entry. It was a well planned and executed campaign…with clear evidence of what had been achieved.”

Tourism Retailer of the Year
(Not Sponsored)

The Beatles Story Liverpool. www.beatlesstory.com

Judges Comment: “The Beatles Story is going from strength to strength and demonstrates a huge commitment to quality.”

Highly Commended: Lady Lever Art Gallery Shop

Sustainable Tourism
Sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool. www.accliverpool.com

Judges Comment: “The ACC Liverpool entry was outstanding. It shows what can be achieved to make tourism more sustainable.”

A special individual Award was also presented by The Mersey Partnership and Liverpool City Council to James Berresford, Director of Tourism at the Northwest Regional Development Agency who is leaving the region to become Chief Executive of national tourist body Visit England.

Ends

For Further Information / Interviews / Images call Tony Storey on 07796 268386

The Mersey Partnership is the Sub Regional Partnership (SRP) for Liverpool City Region. As a public and private sector Membership organisation it is a unique alliance representing more than 450 businesses. TMP Members represent manufacturing and trading companies; six local authorities; government agencies; universities; media organisations and professional agencies. In its role as the SRP, it also works to represent a broader coalition including the voluntary and community sector campaigning for the Liverpool City Region as a great place to live, work, invest and visit.

TMP currently has three main areas of activity:

• Economic Development – co-ordinating Liverpool City Region’s economic development activity 
• Investment – bring new business into Liverpool City Region and encouraging growth
• Tourism – promoting Liverpool City Region’s tourism assets to grow the visitor economy