BLACKPOOL'S hotels need to be more accessible than ever, says the town's tourism department following another successful Tourism Awards ceremony.

And The Citizen was at the resort's Hilton Hotel last Friday to sponsor and present the first ever Accessibility Award to the Bond Hotel in Blackpool for its exceptional disabled facilities.

Katherine O'Connor of the tourism department who organised the event said: "We are delighted that the Bond Hotel has won this award as it is consistently outstanding in providing for visitors with special needs.

"And obviously with the advent of the Disability Discrimination Act in 2004 many of our tourism providers in the town will need to be aware of catering for the disabled."

Editor Alec Stuttard presented the gold award to Bond Hotel owners' Muriel and Robert Jackson at the fourth annual event which rewards quality and innovation in the town's tourism industry.

Muriel said: "The staff were thrilled and they cried when we won. But they always do. They did when we recently won the Queen Mother's EASE award for access and service last year.

"But this is a beautiful award and it's so big it won't fit in our cabinet. We'll have to build a shelf to put it on! It's so nice to be recognised after all our years of work.

"We have been here for 15 years and specialise in disabled accommodation because it was an area that was not catered for. We have 50 rooms all fully wheelchair accessible and ten ground floor rooms with wheel-in showers.

"We also provide hoists, raised toilet seats and other equipment free of charge which customers can request when they book and we then place in their room for them. Also we have a sheltered sun roof which is lovely in the summer and entertainment every night."

Two of the Bond's staff are also proficient in British sign language and all have had disability training.

Before the awards were presented Jane Seddon, head of Blackpool Tourism, said the night was about quality.

She went on: "If Blackpool is serious about regeneration and improving the tourism product, it must offer a quality visitor experience. It must set itself a high standard for quality and achieve that standard on a consistent basis.

"Providing that quality experience has its own rewards. Repeat business, recommendations to new visitors and of course the opportunity for an award at tonight's event."

The event was hosted by Andy Mitchell of The Wave.

The winners were:

HOTEL OF THE YEAR (over 100 bedrooms) sponsored by The Wave: Gold -- De Vere Heron's Reach. Gold -- The Imperial Hotel. Silver -- Park House Hotel.

HOTEL OF THE YEAR (36-99 bedrooms) sponsored by The Waterfront: Gold -- Oak Lea Hotel. Gold -- The Royal Carlton. Silver -- La Tour Hotel.

HOTEL OF THE YEAR (10-35 bedrooms) sponsored by The Grand Theatre: Gold -- Applethwaite Hotel.

HOTEL OF THE YEAR (1-9 bedrooms) sponsored by Business Link: Gold -- Sheron House. Silver -- Astoria Hotel. Highly Commended -- Berwick Hotel.

ACCESSIBILITY sponsored by The Citizen: Gold -- Bond Hotel.

SELF CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR sponsored by the Sandcastle: Gold -- Sunnybank Superior Apartments. Silver -- Sea Cote Holiday Flatlets.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR sponsored by Leisure Parcs: Gold -- Autumn Leaves Restaurant. Gold -- Seniors Fish Bar & Restaurant.

CAFE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Irish Ferries: Gold -- Stage Door Coffee Shop. Silver -- Jacky's Joint.

VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR sponsored by NTK: Gold -- Model Village & Gardens. Silver -- Blackpool Tower & Circus.

ENTERTAINMENT VENUE OF THE YEAR sponsored by the Hilton, Blackpool: Gold -- Blackpool Tower Circus. Gold -- Globe Theatre. Silver -- Blackpool Grand Theatre. Highly Commended -- Funnygirls.

PUB OF THE YEAR sponsored by Seacat: Gold -- NTK.

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR sponsored by Arriva: Gold -- Barry Smith (Skyborne UK Ltd). Silver -- Sheila Chick (Burbage Holiday Lodge). Highly Commended -- Paul Harrison (Ribby Hall Holiday Village).

INNOVATION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Arriva: Gold -- Imperial Hotel/Party House. Silver -- Blackpool Tower.

TOURISM EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR sponsored by De Vere Heron's Reach: Gold -- Anne Handley (SeaLife Centre). Gold -- Beverley Clark (Spinnakers Cafe Bar).

TOURISM EMPLOYEE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD sponsored by De Vere Heron's Reach: Silver -- Mary Fisher (Victoria Bistro).

TOURISM TRAINING AWARD sponsored by Pontins: Gold -- De Vere Heron's Reach. Silver -- Sandcastle Tropical Waterworld.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD sponsored by PHA: Gold -- Blackpool Zoo. Silver -- Blackpool SeaLife Centre.

BEST ALL INCLUSIVE HOLIDAY VENUE sponsored by The Gazette: Gold -- Ribby Hall Holiday Village.