Catalyst on shortlist for tourism title
CATALYST Science Discovery Centre in Widnes has been shortlisted for a Liverpool City Region tourism award.
It is in the running in the small visitor attraction category competing for the gong against Darkstar Laser Arena in St Helens,
For All Liverpool’s Liver Birds, Mersey Ferries, Mersey Tunnel Tours, Port Sunlight Village Trust and Shore Cottage Studio in Wirral.
Catalyst’s nomination follows a historic year for the museum and visitor centre, which welcomed The Queen and Duchess Of Sussex to its grounds last year for the official opening ceremony of the Mersey Gateway bridge, for which the venue has hosted a viewing gallery during the crossing’s construction.
It will now face a judging panel tasked with mulling the final shortlists, with the winners to be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday, May 16, at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool.
There are 17 categories in all including hotel of the year, entertainment venue, and best newcomer, while the previously named ‘taste’ award has been split into restaurant of the year and café of the ● Year.
The tourism awards are held to recognise ‘excellence’ in the city region’s tourism sector.
Peter Sandman, Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership’s head of visitor economy, said: “To see so many entries come in not only shows how prestigious these awards are but also the amount of healthy competition we have across the city region – which only continues to push tourism standards up.
“This is confirmed through the latest figures, which show the local visitor economy is now worth over £4.5bn annually and supports over 53,500 jobs.
“Holding the event in such a stunning venue will create a very special atmosphere and make this year’s awards unmissable.”