Alison Gilmore Wins Tourism Accolade

Alison Gilmore, General Manager at the Barceló Blackpool Imperial Hotel, has won the prestigious “Ambassador of the Year” award from the town’s tourism authority, Blackpool Tourism.

Since her appointment as General Manager in June 2005, Alison has worked tirelessly to promote both the Imperial Hotel and Blackpool as ideal conference venues, whilst also providing charitable support to the local community.
 
Her enthusiasm for promoting Blackpool has seen her elected Chairperson of Blackpool Exhibition and Conference Hotels (BEACH), where she persuaded members to use the forum as an opportunity to develop new strategies for the town, and become a member of the newly-formed Lancashire Conference Working Group. 

Whilst managing a £3m renovation programme at the Imperial that has seen the successful refurbishment of the hotel’s façade, 95 bedrooms and Lancastrian and Louis suites, Alison has also found time to create events that benefit the local community.

In June last year, rather than celebrate the Barceló Imperial Hotel’s 140th anniversary with a commercial event, Alison chose instead to hold a charity dinner, complete with a recreated menu from the hotel’s original Victorian era opening, that raised over £10,000 for two local causes. She also became a Governor at Blackpool and the Fylde College in 2007, where she trained 20 years ago.

“Blackpool has an enormous amount to offer to the meetings and conference sector, including unrivalled facilities and attractions as well as a genuinely unique atmosphere,” says Alison.
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“The destination of many royal visits, the Imperial Hotel has been a venue for political party conferences since the 1950s and continues to attract “A-list” celebrities who work or live in the town. Opened in 1867, the Imperial has been restored to it former splendour during the last two years and offers conference organizers and participants a truly elegant and outstanding venue,” she continues.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, celebrity Paul Crone explained why Alison had been chosen as the winner:” Alison is committed to ensuring the smooth running of the hotel by working closely with staff at all levels and her dedication and enthusiasm for both the hotel and the resort is admired and emulated by her Imperial colleagues.”

Alison brings her fresh approach to traditional events.  A recent innovation is the launch of  Drive-in Wedding Days on St Valentine’s Day.  Last year, five couples took advantage of this unique service, which includes registrar fees, a string quartet, photographer and a 10-person wedding reception, all for £950.

Some of Alison’s other innovations for the Imperial ‘s conference offering include turning coffee breaks into ice-cream making sessions, encouraging delegates to carry out the “Walk of Faith” across the Blackpool Tower’s glass floor and persuading visiting company MDs to practise their marching and drumming skills with the Royal Lancashire Fusiliers.

For information on meetings and events at the Barceló Blackpool Imperial Hotel, please telephone               01253 623971        or email blackpoolimperial@barcelo-hotels.co.uk.

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