24/04/2008
Tourism 'Oscar' for 08 Place
Liverpool's 08 Place Tourist Information Centre was named the nation's best at a glittering ceremony last night.
Organised by VisitBritain, the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence are the annual tourism 'Oscars' for English holidays.
Held at St George's Hall in Liverpool on St George's Day, it was the first time that the prestigious awards have been held outside London.
The 08 Place had previously won at the England's Northwest Tourism Awards, organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
Established as a venue to showcase Liverpool 08, the TIC promotes the Capital of Culture experience and has welcomed almost half a million visitors - an average of over 16,000 people each month - since it opened its doors in 2005.
And in the first three months of 08 all of Liverpool's tourist information centres (08 place, Albert Dock and airport) have had more than 150,000 visitors with enquires up by over 100% on 2007.
The 08 Place, based on Whitechapel in the city centre, is a one-stop culture shop and the first port-of-call for people wanting to find out more about the city, keeping them up-to-date and engaging them with the celebrations.
A highly experienced team of multi-lingual staff offer a full range of information and advice services, while the latest in multi-media technology provides access to a range of interactive tools - including up-to-the-minute events listings.
Liverpool enjoyed a double at the awards as Tourism Website of the Year winner was won by www.liverpoolphil.com, the website for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
The multi-functional site was re-launched in October 2006. Now customers can see the concert view from their seat, listen to and watch audio and video clips, receive live help as well as purchase memberships, CDs and digital downloads on the site. Innovative marketing tactics have helped to drive more visitors to the site and since its launch, online sales have nearly doubled and now account for 34% of all ticket sales.
Kris Donaldson, Director of Liverpool Culture Company, said: "This is a fantastic achievement and is the icing on the cake for what has been a tremendous start to our Capital of Culture year. It is thoroughly deserved because the entire team at the 08 Place have all made a superhuman effort to cater for information on an unprecedented level in Liverpool's history. They've also played a cricital role in creating a reputation for a world class welcome for Liverpudlians and visitors alike which will benefit the city for years to come.''
Hugh Taylor, VisitEngland chairman said: "The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence highlight the rising quality and diversity of holiday experiences on offer in England. From foodie gems and unique attractions to magnificent hotels and sustainable B&B's, England is an exciting world-class tourism destination, in which to discover something new. We are proud to honour the people behind those outstanding tourism businesses who play a vital role in encouraging visitors to holiday in England."
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