Blackpool hotels among '˜best in the world'

The resort has six winners in four categories in review website TripAdvisor’s annual Travellers’ Choice awards.

Travellers rated hotels across the globe from the top rated Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur in India to B&Bs and small family hotels.

The Queens Promenade Hotel, in North Shore has been named sixth best rated bargain hotel in the world; while North Ocean Hotel, also on the North Shore Promenade, takes the title of eighth in the world for Best Service.

Now in their 14th year, the awards honour the world’s most outstanding properties in the categories of Top Hotels, Bargain, B&Bs and Inns, Luxury, Best Service and Small Hotels.

Travellers’ Choice award winners were determined based on the millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year from TripAdvisor travellers worldwide.

Lauren Dodd , from the management team at the 21-bedroom Queens Promenade Hotel, said they were delighted to have won the approval of customers.

She said: “The personal touch is the key thing and treating everyone in the best possible way. We are absolutely ecstatic to have won this award, we could not be happier. We have a strong reputation and work hard to keep it. It is good for Blackpool to have so many small to medium sized hotels doing so well in the awards. We are seeing the return of families to Blackpool which is the way it used to be and the way it should be.”

David Davies, from The North Ocean Hotel, who took over the 25 room hotel two years ago, said focusing on couples, with no children under 14 and no stags and hens had paid dividends.

He said: “There is room for all sorts of hotels in Blackpool but that is the way we operate and it is going really well. The trick is offer the best service so that the customers keep wanting to come back. We just try to be as nice as we can to our guests.”

James Kay, TripAdvisor spokesman, said “These awards are based on guest feedback gathered throughout the year, so what sets these winners apart is not just a high standard of service and accommodation, but the fact that they deliver this day in and day out.

“Demand at these winning hotels is likely to rise, so travellers should book early on TripAdvisor to see for themselves why travellers have raved so much about these properties.”

In the bargain category, Queens Promenade Hotel, is named sixth in the world, fourth in Europe and second in the UK. Maples Hotel, in Queen’s Promenade, takes 17th in Europe and fifth in the UK, while New Guilderoy Hotel in Holmfield Road takes 12th place.

In the best service category, North Ocean Hotel was eighth in the world, fourth in Europe and second in the UK, while the Queen’s Promenade Hotel, which is also named in the bargain category, was 10th in the UK for service.

Other Blackpool winners include The Kenley, in St Chad’s Road, which is 17th in the UK B&Bs category, while Kings Hotel, in New South Promenade, comes 23rd in the UK for small hotels.