Applications now open as Lancashire Tourism Awards make welcome return

Marketing Lancashire’s tourism awards are aligned with Visit England’s national awards, with the vast majority of the Lancashire winners then having the opportunity to go head-to-head with winners from every other English destination, in a competition for a national award.

The county’s only dedicated tourism and hospitality awards, Lancashire Tourism Awards 2021, has now launched and is open to all tourism and hospitality businesses fitting the required criteria in each category.

There are 19 awards up for grabs, including two new awards that acknowledge the character, resilience and invention shown by the sector throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new award categories are: The Resilience and Innovation Award, rewarding a business that has redefined itself during the pandemic, and The Unsung Hero Award, highlighting those individuals who have helped create unique and memorable experiences for visitors, through their sometimes unseen or unsung activities or actions.

Chief executive of Marketing Lancashire, Rachel McQueen, said: "The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2021 will be a very special event for the sector and for Marketing Lancashire.

"We have never been prouder of our partners and the county’s tourism and hospitality businesses, than we have over the last seventeen months or so.

“Facing the challenges, uncertainty and genuine hardship brought by the pandemic, the sector has shown remarkable resilience, proved its ability to redefine itself and has adapted to some of the most testing restrictions on ‘normal’ operations seen in most lifetimes.

“What has shone through during this period is truly reflective of the Lancashire character, approaching each challenge in practical, innovative and often surprisingly good-humoured ways.

“The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2021 will be a celebration of that redefining, of that spirited Lancashire character and of course the future of this incredible sector; in particular, recognising those colleagues who are leading the way on our journey towards a stronger, more accessible and sustainable Lancashire tourism offer.

“As we have throughout the pandemic, Marketing Lancashire will continue to champion Lancashire tourism and hospitality businesses locally, nationally and internationally.

"Today, by launching the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2021 competition, we take a significant step towards a return to ‘normality’ and to celebrating together that we are Lancashire.”

The categories now open for application are:

• Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award *
• Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year *
• Cultural Venue / Organisation of the Year
• Dog Friendly Business of the Year
• Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award *
• Experience of the Year *
• Large Hotel of the Year *
• Perfect Stay *
• New Tourism Business Award *
• Lancashire Pub of the Year *
• Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year *
• Producer of the Year
• Café & Tearoom of the Year
• Restaurant of the Year *
• Large Visitor Attraction of the Year *
• Small Visitor Attraction of the Year *
• Wedding Venue of the Year
• Resilience and Innovation Award *
• Unsung Hero Award *

* The winners of these categories will have the opportunity to represent Lancashire in the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence Awards 2022 competition - subject to meeting criteria.

Information and criteria for each category, as well as the online application forms are now available at www.LancashireTourismAwards.com

To assist applicants, an applications masterclass is being held on Wednesday October 6 from 2.00-2.45pm.

Registration details can also be found in the tips for applicants section of the website.

The deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday November 3 with the shortlist of finalists due to be announced on Thursday November 18.

The award ceremony will take place early next year - location and timing to be announced this November.

For more information visit www.LancashireTourismAwards.com.