St Helens Tourism & Leisure Awards 2008

                                  

St.Helens has hailed the stars of its growing tourism industry with an awards ceremony to celebrate the Borough’s talent for hospitality and leisure. A total of 12 awards were presented, selected by a panel of independent judges and covering a wide range of categories from Team of the Year to Unseen Hero.

Caffe Nero, scored a triple victory with awards for Most Helpful Retail Assistant, Joanne Lee; Most Professional Waitress, Judith Rodgers and Most Supportive Manager / Supervisor, Paul Taylor. The prestigious 2008 St.Helens Ambassador award was presented to Chris Coffey, Secretary of the St.Helens Heritage Network, a consortium of groups and societies associated with historical matters.

Chris’s work, which includes talks to local groups and schools, producing newsletters and organising trips and exhibitions, has engaged communities across St.Helens and encouraged people to discover their local heritage.

With a keynote speech by St.Helens’ paralympic champion Mark Ecclestone, one of the UK’s most successful disabled athletes, the awards night, at Haydock Park Racecourse, was a resounding success.

Councillor Richard Ferry, Executive Member for Urban Regeneration, St.Helens Council, says: “We are justifiably proud of the way the tourism and leisure industry is growing in St.Helens and these awards show why we are successful – because of the hard work and dedication that businesses, organisations and individuals demonstrate throughout the year. It really is a privilege to be able to honour them in this way.”

Dickon White, Chair of the Tourism and Leisure Business Network and MD of Haydock Park, added: “Congratulations to the winners and all the nominees of these very well deserved awards. Without the commitment of all those who are involved in tourism and leisure in St.Helens we would not be where we are today – enjoying a reputation as a North West visitor destination of choice.”

The St.Helens Tourism & Leisure Awards are funded by St.Helens Council, the North West Regional Development Agency, The Mersey Partnership, the Merseyside Objective 1 programme and the private sector.

Winners of the 2008 St.Helens Tourism and Leisure Awards:

Most Welcoming Receptionist

Katherine Walker, Park Inn, St.Helens

Most Helpful Retail Assistant

Joanne Lee , Caffé Nero

Most Professional Sports and Leisure Person

Ben Howard , Park Inn, St.Helens

Tourism, Hospitality, Retail or Leisure Apprentice

Stephanie Arnold, St.Helens College

Most Professional Bar Person

Matthew Cozens, Thistle Haydock

Most Professional Waiter / Waitress

Judith Rodgers , Caffé Nero

The Unseen Hero

Karen Simm, Thistle Haydock

Young Chef Award

Daniel Prezekopowski, Colours Restaurant

Team of the Year

St.Helens Council, Marketing & Events Team

Most Supportive Tourism/Leisure Manager or Supervisor

Paul Taylor, Caffé Nero

Tourism/Leisure Entrepreneur of the Year

Phytobotanica

2008 St.Helens Ambassador

 Chris Coffey