TOURISM as an economic driver for Greater Manchester is paramount.
It was also a good night for the BBC, whose studio tours around their new home at MediaCityUK scooped the 'Small Visitor Attraction of the Year'
Tourism now generates £6.6bn for the local economy (up nearly £1 billion in four years), attracts over 95m day-trippers, 10m over-nighters and 1m international visitors a year.
That's a fair few people to keep happy. Only right then that once a year the Greater Manchester tourism lot should all get together and get their rocks off.
The winners of this year's Manchester Tourism Awards 2014 were announced last night (Tues 2 Dec) at a flashy bash held in the National Football Museum at Cathedral Gardens.
Manchester Tourism Awards 2014
It was a bumper night for both of the Lowrys, as the city centre's Lowry Hotel scooped the coveted 'Hotel of the Year' gong, while over in Salford Quays the 'Large Visitor Attraction of the Year' went to The Lowry arts venue.
Manchester International Festival (MIF), who recently announced the first shows of their 2015 programme, took 'Large Tourism Event of the Year' (though there was no MIF in 2014, events in the past eighteen months can be included) whilst the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair were awarded 'Small Tourism Event of the Year'.
Meanwhile, Chef Aiden Byrne will be relieved to have secured 2014's 'Restaurant of the Year' prize with Manchester House, after rival Simon Rogan's The French restaurant won last year.
It was also a good night for the BBC, whose studio tours around their new home at MediaCityUK scooped the 'Small Visitor Attraction of the Year', while Northern Quarter's famous Affleck's emporium, noted as a USP for Manchester and committed to nurturing the growth of small businesses, took 'Tourism Retailer of the Year'.
Manchester International Festival, Albert Square
Nick Brook-Sykes, Director of Tourism at Marketing Manchester, said:
“Greater Manchester’s tourism industry continues to go from strength to strength and these awards are a fantastic means of demonstrating that. It’s a terrific occasion and a great opportunity to recognise some of the business, organisations and individuals that excel far beyond what is expected and set the standard for others across the region.
"I’m delighted for all of tonight’s winners and I wish the best of luck to those who are now eligible to go and compete on behalf of Greater Manchester at a national level at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.”
HERE'S THE WINNERS IN FULL:
Headline sponsor – Aspire Recruitment
HOTEL OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Polkadot Design & Print
The Lowry Hotel – WINNER
Crowne Plaza Manchester Centre – HIGHLY COMMENDED
LARGE TOURISM EVENT OF THE YEAR– sponsored by Manchester Airport Group (MAG)
Manchester International Festival - WINNER
SMALL TOURISM EVENT OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Verdure Floral Design
Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair - WINNER
The Lowry Hotel
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Manchester House - WINNER
LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Virgin Trains
The Lowry - WINNER
SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
BBC Tours at MediaCityUK - WINNER
SERVICED APARTMENTS OF THE YEAR
The Place Aparthotel - WINNER
TOURISM EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR – sponsored by MediaCo
Wandering Duck – WINNER
Manchester Ship Canal Cruise – HIGHLY COMMENDED
TOURISM STAR/S OF THE YEAR– sponsored by Hotel Gotham
Andrew Archibald – The Lowry Hotel - WINNER
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD – sponsored by NOMA
Novotel Manchester Centre – WINNER
Manchester Central – HIGHLY COMMENDED
Manchester Tourism Awards 2014
BEST ENTERTAINMENT VENUE OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Street Cars
The Met - WINNER
TOURISM RETAILER OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Play Factore
Afflecks - WINNER
BUSINESS TOURISM AWARD – sponsored by Fisher Audio Visual
The University of Manchester Conferences and Venues – WINNER
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD – ‘BEST TEA ROOM’ – sponsored by the Manchester Evening News Diary Page
Annie’s Restaurant & Tea Shop - WINNER
(photo credits Ian Haworth)
