15/09/2009

The group of Virtuoso travel agents, representing big-name travel organisations such as Pathfinders, Luxury Travel Network and Virgin Atlantic Airways arrived in the city on a fact finding mission, experiencing what York has to offer its visitors. 

The agents, who have travelled from all across the USA, including New York, Hollywood and Dayton in Ohio, visited top tourist attractions including York Minster, York Castle Museum, JORVIK Viking Centre and Barley Hall.  A visit to the National Railway Museum saw the group enjoy afternoon tea on the impressive Valiant carriage.

Gillian Cruddas, Chief Executive of Visit York said, ‘Our latest tourism figures show a steady recovery in visits from the United States.   The USA is the number one country for overseas visits to York, and it's vitally important that we use opportunities such as this to showcase our fantastic city - and ultimately ensure York is promoted as a top destination by America's travel agents.'

As well as visits to York's popular tourist attractions, the group enjoyed a stay at the Park Inn Hotel, experienced a ‘Behind the Scenes' tour of York Minster and took part in a Yorkshire Cheese tasting session with Judy Bell, founder of artisan cheesemakers Shepherds Purse Cheeses based in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

Commenting on the tasting, Judy Bell said: "I was delighted to be invited to showcase Yorkshire cheeses as part of the Visit York tourism drive.  It was a fantastic opportunity to introduce our traditionally handmade cheeses to high profile US travel agents and make them aware of what the region has to offer. I received an enthusiastic response to the flavours and textures and converted many to the taste of our best seller Yorkshire Blue, particularly drizzled with honey!  We currently sell into North America to speciality retail outlets, so many will be actively seeking out Shepherds Purse Cheeses and extolling the virtues of Yorkshire cheeses among US travellers and tourists."

Virtuoso is the upmarket and most prestigious of travel agent consortia.  Members have to pass a rigorous set of entry criteria and their specialist area is creating travel packages for their upmarket clients - these packages are often for family groups spending $5,000 to $10,000 per head on their trip.

Virtuoso agents are regarded as the crème de la crème of the travel agents industry. Their trip to York was organised in partnership with Visit York, as part of a five-night stay in the UK courtesy of UK-based Discover Travel and Tours and Virgin Atlantic Airways.  ENDS