09/03/2011

Two hundred tourism businesses from York will gather in Britain's most famous Victorian Street, Kirkgate, at York Castle Museum on 10th March to celebrate success stories from the past year.  Organised by Visit York, this tourism street party will be an opportunity to share good news from across the city and bolster the city's tourism sector. 

Hotel managers, publicans, theatre bosses, restauranteurs, shop owners and attractions managers will all get together to share York's good news, discuss how they can work together to market the city and ensure the continued success of York's tourism industry. 

Special guest at the event, business woman Karen Waugh, who has recently opened The Fort, York's first independent boutique hostel, will be the 700th tourism business to join forces with Visit York and Welcome to Yorkshire to promote and grow her business nationally and internationally. 

John Yeomans, Chairman of Visit York, said, ‘It is vitally important that York's tourism businesses all work together to share best practice and shout loud and proud about what the city and the region has to offer.  We are particularly delighted to welcome Karen as our 700th business as a member of Visit York and Welcome to Yorkshire, at a time when private sector support for our industry is so crucial.'

York's tourism sector has a host of good news to celebrate including the success of York Theatre Royal's production of the Railway Children, Yorkshire Museum's shortlisting for the  prestigious Art Fund Prize and Yorkshire Air Museum's Best Attraction Award, as voted for by Going Places.  The title of most picturesque street in Britain for the Shambles, in the Google Street View Awards, was a major boost for York too and Visit York is celebrating after the opening of its new Visitor Centre at 1, Museum Street. Since the centre opened last May 310,935 people have been welcomed through the doors, a 49% increase compared with visits to the former visitor centre at the De Grey Rooms. 

Karen Waugh, owner of York's first independent boutique hostel, the Fort, said, ‘We are delighted to join Visit York and Welcome to Yorkshire to market the Fort.  As a relatively new business we look forward to working with York's tourism experts in promoting the Fort and we are confident of a very successful 2011.'

Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said, ‘We're delighted so many York businesses are collaborating to create a strong tourism offering. York's tourism sector has much to be proud of and much to celebrate.'  ENDS