The Blackpool Tourism Awards will be staged early next month, rewarding the best businesses and individuals in their field during the 2005 season.
There are 122 finalists in 17 categories and, in almost all cases, visitors were asked to vote for their favourites, with businesses then providing evidence to back up the entries.
Blackpool tourism director Jane Seddon said: "Those who entered were asked about training, quality and marketing initiatives, as well as providing an overall view of why they felt they should receive an award.
"The independent judges, all experts in their field, have now drawn up a shortlist and we are all looking forward to a glittering occasion amid the splendour of the Tower Ballroom when the ultimate winners will be announced on Friday, February 3."
The Tower itself is one of eight shortlisted attractions, alongside the likes of the Zoo, Pleasure Beach and Sandcastle Waterworld.
The Festival of Light, which ran throughout the Illuminations season, has also been shortlisted as an attraction, as well as being a contender for tourism innovation. The four star Imperial will be hoping to hold on to the crown it regained last year for top large hotel, in which its five competitors include last year's runner-up, the Big Blue at the Pleasure Beach.
There are also six properties battling it out in the 36 to 99 bedroom category and 20 to 35 category.
At the smaller end of the market, a record 18 hotels are shortlisted in the 10 to 19 bedrooms category and a dozen in the under 10 bedrooms section.
A number of these hotels, of all sizes, are also among the 17 finalists, alongside the Model Village and a South Shore shop, Rockbottom, in a new category Family Friendly Business.
* Tickets for the tourism awards dinner on Friday February 3, priced £35 each, are available from Blackpool Visitor Centre, Clifton Street, or by ringing Helena Axon at Blackpool tourism department on (01253) 478231.
craig.fleming@blackpoolgazette.co.uk
THE FINALISTS
Big Blue, Pleasure Beach; Doric, Queens Promenade; Hacketts York House, Queens Promenade; Lyndene South Promenade; Park House, North Promenade; Imperial, North Promenade.
Hotel (36-99 rooms)
Bond, Bond Street; Broadway, Burlington Road West; Carousel, New South Promenade; Chequers Plaza, Queens Promenade; Liberty's, Cocker Square; Oak Lea, Albert Road.
Hotel (20-35 rooms)
Baron, North Promenade; Beverley, Charnley Road; Crewes Original, Central Promenade; South Beach, Promenade; Vernon, Wellington Road; Vidella, Dickson Road.
Hotel (10-19 rooms)
Applethwaite, Tyldesley Road; Briardene, Kelso Avenue, Anchorsholme; Clifton Court, Clifton Drive; Derby, Derby Road; Everglades, Barton Avenue; Glenholme, Alexandra Road; Holmsdale, Pleasant Street; Hurstmere, Alexandra Road; Jollies, Hornby Road; King Edward, King Edward Avenue; Manhattan Hotel, Dean Street; New Hertford, Lord Street; Oban House, Holmfield Road; Pembroke, King Edward Avenue; Springcliffe, Lytham Road; Strathdon, St Chads Road; Windsor Carlton, Warley Road; Wyvern, Alexandra Road.
Hotel (1-9 rooms)
Berwick, King Edward Avenue; Bringewood, King Edward Avenue; Burlees, Knowle Avenue; Ellan Vannin, Gynn Avenue; Number One, St Luke's Road; Seaton, Hornby Road; Strathmere, Reads Avenue; Sunnyhurst , Reads Avenue; Westcliffe, King Edward Avenue; Willswood, Reads Avenue; Wingate, Dean Street, Blackpool; Wynnstay, Hornby Road.
Café
Copper Kettle, Bond Street; Number 97 Café & Bistro, Lytham Road; Stage Door Coffee Shop, Winter Gardens.
Restaurant
AJ's Bistro, Topping Street; Buccaneer, Coral Island, Promenade; Jade Delight, Bond Street; La Fontana, Clifton Street; West Coast Rock Café, Abingdon Street; White Tower, Pleasure Beach.
Hotel Restaurant
Big Blue Brasserie, Pleasure Beach; Curbside Brasserie, Briardene, Kelso Avenue, Anchorsholme; Broadway, Burlington Road West; Carousel, New South Promenade; Doric, Queens Promenade; Hacketts York House, Queens Promenade; Liberty's, Cocker Square.
Entertainment Venue
Alabama,Liberty's Hotel, Cocker Square; The Arena, Pleasure Beach; The Globe, Pleasure Beach; Grand Theatre; Showbar, Queens Hotel, South Promenade.
Pub
Buccaneer Family Bar, Coral Island; Gillespie's, Topping Street; The Highlands, Queens Promenade; Laughing Donkey, South Pier; Old Bridge, Lytham Road; Pump and Truncheon, Bonny Street; Winter Gardens Theatre Bar.
Attraction
Blackpool Illuminations – Festival of Light; Blackpool Model Village & Gardens; Pleasure Beach; Blackpool Tower and Circus; Blackpool Zoo; City Sightseeing Tours; Louis Tussaud's Waxworks; Sandcastle Waterworld
Family Friendly Business
Beach House Holiday apartments, Queens Promenade; Beverley Hotel, Charnley Road, Bringewood Hotel, King Edward Avenue; Broadway Hotel, Burlington Road West; Chequers Plaza Hotel, Queens Promenade; Crewes Original Hotel, Central Promenade; Doric Hotel, Queens Promenade; Everglades Hotel, Barton Avenue; Hacketts York House, Queens Promenade; Jollies Hotel, Hornby Road; Lyndene Hotel, Promenade; Blackpool Model Village & Gardens; Oban House Hotel, Holmfield Road; Park House Hotel, North Promenade; Rockbottom shop, Lytham Road; Vernon Hotel, Wellington Road; Wingate Hotel, Dean Street.
Unserviced Accommodation
Beachcliffe Holiday Flats, King Edward Avenue; Beach House Holiday Flats, Queens Promenade; Burbage Holiday Lodge, Queens Promenade; Empress Select Holiday Flats, Empress Drive; Florence Self-Catering Apartments, Albert Road; Queens Mansions Holiday Apartments, Queens Promenade.
Tourism Innovation
Blackpool Illuminations Festival of Light; City Sightseeing Tours.
Tourism Business
Blackpool Pleasure Beach; WA Shearings; Royal Windsor Apartments, Trafalgar Road; Clifton Court Hotel, Clifton Drive; Imperial Hotel, North Promenade.
Individual Contribution
Rutger Vermulen, City Sightseeing; Adele Spinks, Everglades Hotel, Barton Avenue; Leye D Johns, Alabama, Liberty's Hotel, Cocker Square; Amanda Thompson, Pleasure Beach.
Tourism Training
De Vere Herons Reach, East Park Drive; Imperial Hotel, North Promenade; Liberty's Hotel & The Alabama, Cocker Square; Pleasure Beach.