24/05/2010

Visit York has announced the appointment of two specialists to ensure that York's new Visitor Information Centre is the best in the country.

Harrogate-based creative design consultancy, SoVibrant, has been taken on to design the interior; its role will be to bring to life all that York and Yorkshire has to offer through engaging and identifiable visuals.

SoVibrant has been tasked with creating a modern space that will promote the state-of-the-art services that the new centre will offer, whilst remaining sympathetic to the Grade II listing of the building itself.

Adam Atkinson, consultant at SoVibrant, said: "Working on the new visitor centre for York has been a fantastic experience for the SoVibrant team.  The striking and thoroughly modern design, incorporating iconic graphics of York and Yorkshire will contrast and compliment the beautiful listed building on Museum Street. Once complete, it will provide the City of York with a Visitor Centre to be proud of and a vital focal point that will bring the local community and visitors together."

Meanwhile, heritage retail specialists, Retail Matters has been appointed to source a local and regional range of products that show off the best of Yorkshire's  region's treasures including local foods and preserves, arts and crafts, gifts and books.

John Prescott, senior consultant at Retail Matters, said: ""We are very proud to be working with Visit York and to be associated with their new visitor centre which we are sure will become a retail destination in its own right."

The new state of the art ‘Visit York Information Centre' will be opening its doors to the public this summer, replacing the existing service currently located at the De Grey Rooms in Exhibition Square. 

John Yeomans, Chairman of Visit York, said: "The announcement of these two key appointments marks a significant time for the new centre. Both consultants are bringing vital expertise to the project, which will become a valuable destination for residents and visitors in its own right."

As a grade II listed building, the new centre at 1 Museum Street dates from around 1840 and has undergone a renovation and restoration programme by York Conservation Trust.

The state-of-the-art Information Centre will provide an in-house box office facility for local and regional attractions and events; and a one-stop-shop for all York, Yorkshire and national travel information; an accommodation booking service with a local, regional & national reach; plus an itinerary planning service to help visitors get the most from their time in York.

Chris Morton, Manager of Visitor Services at Visit York said, ‘There's never been a visitor information service like this that has been devised from scratch with the visitor in mind.  Everything we've put in to design, gift sourcing and information is sourced from the visitor perspective - putting the visitor first.  We've adapted and listened to the customer and thought long and hard about how we will deliver imaginative and exemplary customer service.  We aim too to make this centre a centre for all and will be encouraging York residents to use our service for all their York information needs.'

For more information on the new Visitor Information Centre, visit http://www.visityork.org/

Visit York, 1 Museum Street, York YO1 7DT

ENDS