Liverpool’s top tourist attractions, restaurants and bars gathered for an Oscar style ceremony last night to recognise the very best which Liverpool City Region has to offer.
The event, held at St George’s Hall and hosted by travel journalist Simon Calder, proved to be the city’s most glamorous event to date, as the best and brightest of the tourist industry rubbed shoulders at this historic venue.
A bespoke cocktail, created by award-winning restaurant chain Viva Brazil, was presented to all guests as they arrived and were greeted by the fanfare of Brazilian drummers and dancers. Guests also got to see an exclusive performance from the cast of the Lion King, currently performing at Liverpool Empire.
The awards, which were held on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, are now in their fourth decade of continued recognition of Liverpool’s vibrant tourism industry and its valued contributors.
The array of stylish outfits on the night did headline sponsors Liverpool ONE proud, with the city once again proving its reputation as the best dressed. Other sponsors of the awards included Virgin Trains, Viva Brazil, the Liverpool Hoteliers Association, City Central BID, Commercial District BID, ACC Liverpool, Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Davy Liver Cabs.
It was an incredible evening as the choices made by the judges and a panel of leading industry experts were revealed.
In addition to the award categories there were also special prizes for The People’s Choice Award, an accolade recognising the region’s best individual and business in the tourism sector and voted for by the public. After a high number of votes and a tough decision-making process, the winners were revealed as…
Winners on the night were as follows:
Hotel of the Year
Winner – Hope Street Hotel
Highly Commended – Formby Hall Gold Resort & Spa
Guest Accommodation of the Year
Winner – Mere Brook House
Serviced Apartments of the Year
Winner – Staybridge Suites Liverpool
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner – Port Sunlight Museum
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
Winner – Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
Highly Commended – Liverpool Central Library & Archive
Taste Liverpool
Winner – Delifonseca
Highly Commended – Lunya
Tourism Event and Experience
Winner – Chagall: Modern Master, Tate Liverpool
Highly Commended – Shiverpool
Bar of the Year
Winner – The Wro
Tourism Marketing Project
Winner – Chagall: Modern Master, Tate Liverpool
Excellence in Business Tourism
Winner – ACC Liverpool
Highly Commended – The Conference Centre at LACE
Sustainable Tourism
Winner – Ness Botanic Gardens
People’s Choice for Business
Winner – Shiverpool
Outstanding Customer Service
Winner – Lillian Moore, Liverpool Empire Theatre
Tourism Ambassador
Winner – Gemma McGowan, The Isla Gladstone
People’s Choice for Individual
Winner – Danielle Youds, Delifonseca
Outstanding Contribution to Tourism
Winners
Pam Wilsher
Tony Corfield
Judith Feather