The fifth Lancashire and Blackpool Tourism Awards have attracted a record 87 entries in 13 categories and 43 businesses have now been shortlisted.

Winners in a number of categories will automatically qualify for this year's England's Northwest Tourism Awards, organised by the NWDA.

If successful, they may go on to take part in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence.

Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board chief Mike Wilkinson said: "In the past two years four of our award winners have gone on to achieve regional success and two have achieved the ultimate prize - success in the national awards. So it just shows what can be achieved when you are one of our finalists.

"It is also brilliant to see a record number of entries this year. Businesses increasingly appreciate that entering awards is not simply about being number one - great as that is - but how much taking part in the process motivates staff, demonstrates the business is continually improving and proudly says, 'my business is special'."

Peter Mearns, executive director of marketing at the Northwest Regional Development Agency, said: "The NWDA is proud to support these awards which are raising standards across the industry year-on-year and helping to ensure that England's Northwest is able to compete with the best both nationally and internationally.

"I look forward to welcoming some Lancashire winners to the regional awards later this year."

The tourism event of the year is being decided by the public and 30 events from 2007, chosen by all 14 Lancashire districts and the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board, are currently being voted on.

These include Blackpool Illuminations; Blackpool Remembers Veterans Week; Ridesafe Backsafe at Fairhaven Lake; International League for the Protection of Horses Open Days at Penny Farm, Peel; Fylde Folk Festival Fleetwood; Tram Sunday Transport Festival, Fleetwood and Bowland Festival, Forest of Bowland.

The first, second and third placed events will be announced at the lunchtime ceremony on Wednesday June 18 at Blackburn Rovers Football Club, hosted by BBC North West Tonight co-presenter and former Kirkham Grammar School pupil Ranvir Singh.

There will also be a 15 minute cooking demonstration from celebrity chefs The Hairy Bikers to mark Taste Lancashire 08:The Year of Food and Drink.


The full shortlist:

B&B/guest accommodation:
Number One, South Beach, Blackpool; Little Stubbins Bed & Breakfast, Claughton-on-Brock near Garstang; Whitestake Farm Bed & Breakfast, near Preston

Small hotel:
Crofters Hotel, Garstang; Bartle Hall Country Hotel, near Preston; The Shireburn Hotel, Hurst Green

Large hotel:
Big Blue Hotel, Blackpool; Elgin Hotel, Blackpool; Sleepwell Carousel Hotel, Blackpool; Barton Grange Hotel, near Preston

Small attraction:
Cobble Hey Farm and Gardens, Claughton-on-Brock near Garstang; Farmer Ted's Farm Park, Ormskirk; Lancaster Canal Packet Boats; Williamson Park, Lancaster

Large attraction:
Pleasure Beach, Blackpool; Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool; National Football Museum, Preston; WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Ormskirk

Caravan Holiday Park:
Eastham Hall Caravan Park, Lytham; Newton Hall Holiday Park, Blackpool

Self catering holiday:
The Beach House, Blackpool; Bleasdale Cottages, Bleasdale; Malkin Tower Farm Holiday Cottages, Blacko; Wolfen Mill Country Retreats, Chipping

Tourism website:
Blackpool Zoo; Pleasure Beach, Blackpool; Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green; Little Green Men, Chorley

Taste Lancashire 08:
Cobble Hey Farm and Gardens, Claughton-on-Brock, near Garstang; The Foodworks at Lancaster House Hotel, Lancaster; Northcote Manor, Langho; Weezos Modern European Restaurant, Clitheroe

Business Tourism:
Pleasure Beach, Blackpool; Sleepwell Carousel Hotel, Blackpool; Barton Grange Hotel, near Preston

Sustainable Tourism:
Sunset Park, Hambleton; Bleasdale Cottages, Bleasdale;Malkin Tower Farm Holiday Cottages, Blacko; RSPB Leighton Moss Nature Reserve, Silverdale

Best Tourism Experience:
Downy Duckling Experience, WWT Martin Mere, Ormskirk; Inside Spa, Nelson; Morecambe Bay Cross Bay Walks; Santa Steam Specials, East Lancashire Railway