DELIFONSECA swept to victory yet again, last night, in the city's tourism "Oscars".
It picked up the Taste award for best restaurant, at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards. Meanwhile, its manager Danielle Youds was crowned tourism champion in an award voted for by the public.
In a tightly fought contest, Spanish restaurant and deli Lunya came a close second, taking the highly commended place. Other contenders were New Brighton's Caffe Cream, Malmaison Brasserie and the London Carriage Works.
The venues were among some of the area's top tourist attractions, restaurants and bars who gathered at St George's Hall for the black tie event, back this year after an absence in 2013.
The rather swishy gala dinner attracted hundreds of people from the industry who were greeted by Brazilian drummers and dancers. Guests also gave a standing ovation to the cast of the Lion King, who came straight off stage at the Liverpool Empire to perform the finale.
Tate Liverpool's Chagalle exhibition scooped two honours, while Liverpool Empire veteran Lilian Moore won the award for Outstanding Customer Service.
As a new hotel seems to open every week in Liverpool, Hope Street Hotel was voted the best of the heap.
West Kirby's Wro picked up the Bar of the Year accolade, beating the bar at the Malmaison and The Hub Alehouse and Kitchen.
The awards, held on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, was hosted by a travel journalist called Simon Calder.
The posh scouse, made by Liverpool Yacht Club, who did the catering, wins Liverpool Confidential's own award for the best thing on a plate this week.
The Winners
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
Two awards for the TateLarge 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
The Liverpool Empire's
Lilian Moore 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
Sponsors included Liverpool ONE, Virgin Trains, Viva Brazil, the Liverpool Hoteliers Association, City Central BID, Commercial District BID, ACC Liverpool, Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Davy Liver Cabs.