Manchester Tourism Awards 2011

Sponsors

Sponsorship of the Manchester Tourism Awards is an excellent way to promote your business to 300 key decision makers from the tourism industry and raise your profile within this rapidly developing industry. More information on the sponsorship packages can be downloaded here

Large Event of the Year

Sponsored by BDP

BDP is a firm of professionals in building design, embracing all the skills needed to provide an integrated, comprehensive service. Our mission statement is 'to be Europe's leading building design practice, providing excellence in design and service through partnership'.

Our key disciplines are architecture, design, engineering, urbanism, sustainability, lighting and acoustics.

We work across many sectors - retail, urbanism, transport, workplace, healthcare, education, housing, leisure and heritage.

In 2011 BDP celebrates it's 50th year with a number of events and activities including a celebratory exhibition in Manchester in October, a book entitled 61/11 Continuous Collective and a film by director Camilla Robinson called Five Cities, Five Places, One Day. For more details on BDP visit www.bdp.com

Small Visitor Attraction of the Year

Sponsored by Stagecoach Manchester

Stagecoach Manchester, provides local bus services in Greater Manchester and carries over 98 million passengers a year. We employ over 1800 members of staff and own over 650 buses operating over 23 million miles a year.

Our aim is to provide safe, reliable, punctual, clean and comfortable services for our passengers, with a good value for money range of tickets and fares.

We place our environmental responsibilities at the heart of the company. Our £12.2 million investment in new Hybrid-driver buses and a brand new 200 vehicle depot in Sharston, along with the work of our 'green teams' has helped contribute to the reduction in our total energy usage of 19% since 2008. Click here for more details on Stagecoach Manchester

Hotel of the Year

Sponsored by Fisher Audio Visual

Fisher Audio Visual is a dynamic, audio visual hire business supplying equipment to the hotel and conference industry. Our name is synonymous with high quality AV equipment and comprehensive technical support.

Our efficient technical teams deliver, install and operate a massive range of professional audio visual equipment throughout the UK.

Our friendly, dynamic team is proudly led by Bryan Fisher, whose 40 years of industry experience is backed by numerous testimonials along the way.

Whether you're a small or large conference venue, you'll enjoy the same dedicated service that we offer all our clients. contact us for more information

"Equipment that makes an impact; service that makes all the difference"

Business Tourism Award

Sponsored by easyJet

easyJet, the UK's largest airline, launched at Manchester Airport in March 2008 with just seven routes. Today the low-fares airline offers Manchester passengers access to more than 25 European destinations including recently added routes to Bilbao, Gothenburg and Hamburg.

Later this year easyJet will begin operating new routes to Berlin, Belfast and Madrid from Manchester. The new five-times-weekly service to Berlin will begin operating on 3 October, providing the first and only direct service to the German capital from Manchester from as little as £29.99 (one-way, including taxes).

For more information on easyJet's services or to book flights visit www.easyJet.com

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Sponsored by Virgin Trains

Virgin Trains is proud to support Manchester tourism and business as we develop the best ever links between Manchester and London. With up to three trains an hour every day and journeys of just over two hours, there are unprecedented opportunities to bring new business and leisure visitors to Manchester. Weekend train travel is now as fast and frequent as weekdays and this gives great opportunities for Virgin Trains to support the many sporting, cultural and leisure activities that are making Manchester such a thriving city.

For more information please visit our website at www.virgintrains.com

Serviced Apartments of the Year

Sponsored by Squire Sanders Hammonds

Squire Sanders Hammonds combines sound legal counsel with a deep knowledge of our clients' businesses to resolve their legal challenges. We care about the quality of our services, the success of our clients and the relationships that are forged through those successes. The client base of our global legal practice spans every type of business, both private and public, worldwide. We advise a diverse mix of clients, from Fortune 100 and FTSE 100 corporations to emerging companies and from individuals to local and national governments. In the private sector, we provide the full range of legal advice required to implement practical strategies and resolve disputes.

Whatever is needed, we are able to deliver the seamless cross-practice, cross-border and industry-specific support that clients require for success in today's competitive markets.

For more information on Squire Sanders Hammonds visit http://www.ssd.com/

Restaurant of the Year

Sponsored by Diageo

Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Windsor, Buchanan's and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Many of our brands have been around for generations, while some have been developed more recently to meet new consumer tastes and experiences. Our great range of brands and geographic spread means that people can celebrate with our products at every occasion no matter where they are in the world. This is why 'celebrating life every day, everywhere' is at the core of what we do.

For more information about Diageo visit http://www.diageo.com/

Independent Retailer of the Year

Sponsored by Habitat Contracts

Habitat Contracts formed in early 2010 is a one stop furniture solution supplying delivering and installing to a wide variety of projects from workspace environments to hospitality projects including hotels, restaurants and bars.

Well into our second year our business is growing rapidly and we are working on many exciting hospitality projects The team has specialist furniture knowledge and can source from a supply base unrivalled in the contract furniture industry.

Our offer includes providing an expansive range of products to complete entire projects from sofas and desks to cups and saucers.

For more information on our services www.habitatcontracts.co.uk

Large Retailer of the Year

Springbank Flowers, Manchester's leading event florist providing a professional service for every event.

Come and talk to our award winning florists for a creative solution to your event décor needs.

Call us on 0161 877 5888
E-mail us at anna-liisa@springbankflowers.co.uk - Creative Director
joe.massie@springbankflowers.co.uk - Floral Designer

or just come and see us for a coffee at 345 Chester Road, Manchester M16 9FD

Outstanding Customer Service

Sponsored by Hospitality Action

Registered charity No. 1101083. For over 170 years Hospitality Action, the Hospitality Industry Benevolent Organisation, has offered vital assistance to all who work, or have worked within hospitality in the UK and who find themselves in crisis. We support people that are suffering from life altering illnesses, facing poverty, bereavement and domestic violence or need assistance with sick and disabled children. The money we raise goes towards grants for essential items including food and clothing, supporting isolated and lonely retired hospitality workers and holding seminars to tackle the excessive effects of drugs and alcohol for Industry students and employees.

For fundraising opportunities in the North West area you can contact Dawn Holding on 07766 753310 or dawn@spirit-marketing.co.uk or visit hospitalityaction.org.uk

Marketing Campaign of the Year

Sponsored by Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport is the global gateway to the North of England. The largest UK airport outside of London, Manchester Airport serves over 200 direct destinations world wide, with over 60 airlines and 300 tour operators. Manchester has 3 international terminals, featuring state of the art security, retail and car park facilities. Around 19,000 people are employed directly on-site and our growth is shared by our city and the whole region. With over 24 million people within a 2 hour drive time, Manchester is a truly world class destination, serviced by a world class airport.

For more information on Manchester Airport visit manchesterairport.co.uk