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Tourism Stars Celebrated at City Region Awards

Liverpool Cathedral was the setting for the best tourism businesses to be recognised and rewarded at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards 2019, supported by Associate Sponsor, Liverpool ONE.

A total of 19 awards were handed out on the night (16 May) in celebration of an incredible year for the region’s visitor economy, which was hosted by Andi Oliver – a regular face on television through presenting, judging and cooking.

Double winners this year were National Museums Liverpool for their ‘China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors’ exhibition which won the Large Event and Tourism Experience of the Year category. Second double winners were Mere Brook House, a five-star bed and breakfast on the Wirral which picked up the accolade for Guest Accommodation and Independent Tourism Business of the Year.

Brothers Colin and Gary Manning picked up the award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism. Last month they celebrated 20 years since opening 60 Hope Street restaurant – a turning point for both the Liverpool restaurant scene and Hope Street itself. As part of The 60 Group, they opened The Quarter in 2003 and 5 years later Pan-Asian restaurant HoSt.

Hotel of the Year went to Pullman Liverpool with Delifonseca Dockside picking up Restaurant of the Year whilst the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and Music Room were awarded Entertainment Venue of the Year.

Tourism Star of the Year went to Matt Cooke from Hope Street Hotel and Tourism Young Person of the Year was Paul Dixon at Liverpool Film Office.

A new award for this year was the ‘Hidden Gem’ – this category was voted for by the public and recognises the region’s ‘best kept secret’. The winner of this award was Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels.

Guests were entertained by The X-Factor finalists LMA Choir, Spark – a high impact drumming show and Johnny Larsen, a performer from Liverpool ONE’s Tickle the Ivories piano busking festival.

Mark Basnett, Managing Director, Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership said:

“These awards enable us to celebrate and showcase what the city region has to offer across the visitor economy. To see so many entries this year 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 our winners as well as the shortlisted businesses and individuals.”

Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards 2019 Winners

Tourism Star of the Year sponsored by Liverpool City Region LEP
Matt Cooke, Hope Street Hotel

Tourism Young Person of the Year sponsored by LCR Apprenticeship Hub
Paul Dixon, Liverpool Film Office

Best Newcomer to the Visitor Economy sponsored by Epic
Hinterlands

Independent Tourism Business of the Year sponsored Liverpool Cathedral
Mere Brook House

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored Eventful
Port Sunlight Village Trust

Small Event of the Year sponsored by Ticket Quarter
Aurora

Entertainment Venue of the Year sponsored by Arriva North West
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall & Music Room

Excellence in Business Tourism sponsored by ACC Liverpool Group
Conference Centre at LACE

Tourism Experience of the Year sponsored by Merseyrail
China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors

Café / Bistro of the Year sponsored by Liverpool Gin
Caffe Cream of New Brighton

Bar of the Year sponsored by Wild Thang
The Art School Cellars

Restaurant of the Year sponsored by NatWest
Delifonseca Dockside

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year sponsored by Wirral Chamber of Commerce
Knowsley Safari Park

Large Event of the Year sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport
China’s First Emperor and the Terracotta Warriors

Liverpool City Region’s Hidden Gem sponsored by Marketing Liverpool
Friends of Williamson’s Tunnels

Serviced Apartment of the Year sponsored by Owen Drew Candles
Staybridge Suites Liverpool

Guest Accommodation of the Year sponsored by MSP Global
Mere Brook House

Hotel of the Year sponsored by MSP Global
Pullman Liverpool

Outstanding Contribution to Tourism 2019 sponsored by Liverpool ONE
Colin Manning and Gary Manning, The 60 Group