Marketing Lancashire has opened applications for this year’s Lancashire Tourism Awards.

The competition aims to find the very best tourism and hospitality businesses in Lancashire and is supported once again by headline sponsor, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Tourism and hospitality businesses across the county are now invited to apply and with 24 categories available, there’s something to suit every business from Large Hotel to Small Visitor Attraction, Pub of the Year to the Accessible Tourism Award.

Applications must be submitted by Sunday July 16, with the finalists announced by the end of that month.

Through the remainder of the summer many of the finalists will be visited by professional mystery shoppers who will provide useful insights for the panel of specially selected industry judges, before the finalists have face-to-face interviews with those judges in November.

Lancashire Telegraph: Brickhouse Farm Cottages winning their awardBrickhouse Farm Cottages winning their award (Image: Marketing Lancashire)

The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2023 ceremony, announcing all the winners, will take place at King George's Hall in Blackburn on Tuesday February 6 2024, supported by Destination Sponsor Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

Councillor Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen, said: “It is fitting that an awards event that celebrates the very best in tourism and visitor attractions is hosted in a venue with over 100 years of cultural history. I’m absolutely delighted for the team at King George’s Hall. 

“With a proud history stretching back over 100 years, this jewel in our borough’s crown lies at the heart of our new £50m Cultural Quarter which is currently seeing extensive redevelopment, particularly to the Blakey Moor Terrace directly opposite King George’s Hall. 

“Our vision for this area is to restore this historic terrace and create new restaurant premises within Northgate Conservation Area to add to the new restaurants already open. This area has huge potential and an exciting future, and I’m delighted that Lancashire Tourism Awards finalists and sponsors will be able to see this for themselves.”

Headline Sponsor, UCLan will lead the search for the Hospitality and Tourism Student of the Year; a category introduced to the Lancashire Tourism Awards last year, which was awarded to Charlie Nicholls, a Professional Cookery student of Blackpool and The Fylde College.

Most of the winners of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2023 will have the chance to progress to the national Visit England Excellence Awards in 2024.

Brickhouse Farm Cottages, in Poulton-Le-Fylde, was the winner of the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2022 Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award and is now one of just three finalists in the national Visit England Excellence Awards. 

They will find out whether they have won gold, silver or bronze on Wednesday June 7, at a ceremony being held at Warner Bros, Studio Tour London – the Making of Harry Potter.

Vikki Harris, director of marketing and partnerships at Marketing Lancashire said: “The Lancashire Tourism Award judges are accustomed to a flood of applications from businesses that are thriving, innovating and achieving their goals, and we know this year’s applicants will be just as impressive.

“We are so proud of the achievements and the resilience of our industry colleagues, emerging from a difficult period for the sector and so grateful to the many institutions, organisation and suppliers that have already agreed to support this year’s awards. 

"Lancashire is pulling together like never before, allowing the county to shine ever more brightly.”

For information on all the categories, criteria for entry, important deadlines, application forms and the latest #LTA23 news go to LancashireTourismAwards.com and follow @MarketingLancs on Twitter.

If you are interested in sponsoring or supporting the Lancashire Tourism Awards 2023 email Maria Moriarty-Eames Maria@marketinglancashire.com