Ambassadors show off the best of resort

The resort’s ambassadors are part of the town’s £2.4m LightPool project at the Illuminations.

The team will help tell the story of the LightPool project, directing people to the exhibits in the town centre from September – including the dazzling digital mapping display on the front of the Tower, a series of outdoor shows and exhibitions.

The LightPool ambassadors are already at work, welcoming visitors to the town and offering help and advice about the upcoming shows. They also provide travel and tourism tips.

Lead by co-ordinators Karen Airnes-Little and Helen Jenkins, the group is based in a dedicated Visitor Information Hub located on the ground floor of Bickerstaffe Square in the town centre. The hub has been designed as a satellite information centre and is open seven days a week.

Karen said: “The team feels very proud to be representing Blackpool and promoting the best that the town has to offer. There are 16 of us in total and four of the ambassadors have rejoined from last year which shows just how much we enjoy our roles.

“We have been on tours of the attractions around Blackpool so we are well equipped to answer any questions about the resort.”

Helen added: “This year we have the Visitor Information Hub as the base for our team and it’s already proving to be an invaluable addition to the project. We’re excited for the Illuminations season.”

Three new displays have been designed specifically for LightPool this year and are funded by a £2m grant from the Coastal Communities Fund and Blackpool Council.

The eye-catching 3D projection shows will be displayed on to the front of The Tower buildings from the start of September. One of the projections has been designed by Illuminations curator Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen and his daughter Cecile.