THE search for Cheshire’s best hotels, restaurants, and tourism attractions is underway.
Organisers of the Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards have revealed two new categories as they officially launch the hunt for 2025’s winners.
This year, local enterprises will be able to compete for ‘Best Event’ and ‘Best Festival’, along with 15 returning categories.
Trevor Brocklebank, chair of Marketing Cheshire, said: “The awards celebrate the trailblazing businesses and individuals behind Cheshire and Warrington’s visitor economy which attracts 50 million visitors a year.
“The awards continue to evolve, and it is fantastic that we have added the Best Event or Festival Award given the region’s prowess and pedigree in this area. I expect this will be a strongly contested award.
“The fact businesses are suggesting award categories is testament to just how much of an impact the awards have made. As well as the prestige, previous entrants have told us that taking part has increased bookings, generated PR, and boosted staff morale and recruitment.”
The Tourism Awards aim to celebrate the industry which contributes £3.41 billion to the region’s economy, employing around 35,000 people and attracting more than 50 million visitors every year.
Last year’s awards saw a record number of submissions, 29 per cent more than the previous year.
Winners included Chester Zoo, Jodrell Bank and BeWILDerwood – which took home the Best Tourism Marketing Project of the Year Award for its Make a Sploosh campaign.
Lydia Downey, BeWILDerwood’s head of marketing, said: “If you’re thinking of entering the awards, do it!
“We’ve been lucky enough to win a few times over the years, winning best newcomer and large visitor attraction a few years back which really helped establish us in the area, as well as winning best marketing project of the year last year.
“Both awards have been brilliant for staff morale, and we will continue to enter.”
Meanwhile, The Bear’s Paw in Warmingham was crowned ‘Small Serviced Accommodation Provider of the Year’ during the ceremony at Chester Cathedral in March, hosted by former Hollyoaks star Lucy-Jo Hudson.
General manager Charlotte Edwards said: “The Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards are hugely significant to our business.
“Not only did the awards dinner itself provide a fantastic opportunity for the team to come together and celebrate their hard work and group achievements, but the application process and mystery visitor experience allowed us to reflect on our successes and areas of improvement as a business.
"This has proved invaluable in helping us to maintain our high standards. Ending the process with a win was a great honour.”
The deadline to enter the 2025 awards is August 30, with the winners announced next March.
Qualifying winners are then automatically entered into the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence to compete against the best in the country.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel