St Helens Tourism & Leisure Awards

Last chance to salute our champions

DO you know someone who deserves an award for all the hard work they do on behalf of our town?

You'd better hurry as the final deadline for entries to the 2007 St Helens Tourism and Leisure Awards is fast approaching. It has been extended by a week due to the postal strikes, so you have until Friday November 2 to get your nominations in and help to find the very best of the local tourism and leisure industry.

Following the huge success of the 2006 gala awards evening earlier this year, attended by over 370 people, St Helens will once again be celebrating the excellence and achievements of all those businesses, organisations, and individuals who contribute to the borough's growing tourism industry. They will recognise the people across the borough who have been instrumental in ensuring that visitors have enjoyed their time in St Helens during 2007.

All members of the public and businesses operating within the sector are encouraged to make nominations in any of the 13 categories:
Most Welcoming Receptionist
Most Helpful Retail Assistant
Most Professional Sports and Leisure Person
Tourism, Hospitality, Retail or Leisure Apprentice
Most Professional Bar Person
Most Professional Waiter/Waitress
The Unseen Hero
Young Chef Award
Chef of the Year
Team of the Year
Most Supportive Tourism/Leisure Manager/Supervisor
Tourism/Leisure Entrepreneur of the Year.

2007 St Helens Ambassador Councillor Neil Taylor, Executive Member for Urban Regeneration at St Helens Council said: "I would encourage local people and businesses that have been impressed by the high standards of an individual or team working within the borough's growing tourism and leisure sector to nominate them for an award and help us to officially recognise their efforts and celebrate their contribution to the industry.

"St Helens is now a growing regional destination of choice for visitors. With its mix of glorious countryside, fascinating heritage, vibrant nightlife and quality sporting events, St Helens has something to offer everyone"

Dickon White, Chair of the St Helens Tourism and Leisure Business Network and Managing Director at Haydock Park Racecourse says: "The annual St Helens Tourism and Leisure Awards recognise the hard work and commitment of all those involved in the tourism industry in the borough and we are looking forward to another exciting competition. This event will showcase what has been achieved during 2007 by the private sector working in close partnership with public agencies such as St Helens Council, The Mersey Partnership and the Northwest Development Agency".

Entries will be accepted up until Friday, November 2, and the shortlist of successful candidates will be announced later that month. The awards ceremony will take place on Friday, January 25 2008 at Haydock Park Racecourse.

To request a nomination form, or for further information about how to enter the 2007 St Helens Tourism and Leisure Awards, contact Alexandra Holt, Tourism Development Officer at St Helens Council, Town Hall, Victoria Square, St Helens WA10 1HP, call 01744 456078, or e-mail alexandraholt@sthelens.gov.uk