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 Walton Hall and Gardens - which was named Wedding Venue of the Year.
Councillor Tony Higgins, Warrington Borough Council’s cabinet member for communities, culture and leisure, said: “We’re a smaller scale venue, operated by a small team, so to have their hard work recognised by Marketing Cheshire has been invaluable for morale, as well as future marketing of the estate.
"Winning the award this year has been a significant boost to our visibility and reputation as a top wedding venue and tourism destination, not only in Warrington but across the region.
“We can’t recommend entering the Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards enough, the benefits from being recognised as part of the wider Cheshire tourism and attractions economy are brilliant for smaller-scale businesses such as our own.”
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.
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