It came as Government received Blackpool's official bid submission for the UK's first super casino licence.
Sir Peter Hall, chairman of Re:Blackpool – the resort's regeneration company – told a packed audience at Bolton's Reebok Stadium to help get the town "off its sickbed" at the launch of the North West's Regional Economic Strategy (RES).
One of the key areas of the RES is Blackpool's masterplan project which aims to develop deprived areas in the town.
Central to that
vision is the bid by Blackpool Council to win the one and only regional casino licence.
The resort is now battling it out with around 40 other towns and cities after submitting its detailed bid to the Government's Casino Advisory Panel.
Sir Peter, a highly renowned regeneration expert, said despite all the pressure out upon the council over the past few years, Blackpool is once again rising to the challenge.
He added: "Blackpool is a town which has lost its industry, lost it focus during the 1980s and some may say it has lost its appetite to attract.
"We have a unique chance here to change around the fortunes of a resort which many have already written off and this chance comes with the urban regeneration of some of the most deprived areas of the town.
"By addressing business leaders I hope you will help us back the bid and give Blackpool a new lease of life for the future of the North West."
The resort remains the 23rd most deprived town in the UK with around a 30 per cent fall in hotels and guesthouses since 1987.
Airport bosses were at the launch to hear what they could do and Sir Peter added: "Access to Blackpool is all important so please, Virgin, bring back our rail link to London and the South."
nick.hyde@blackpoolgazette.co.uk