07/04/2011

The cream of York's tourism sector will be celebrating today (Thursday 7th April) after winners in Visit York's annual tourism awards were announced at a black tie awards ceremony held at York Racecourse last night.  Winning a prestigious Tourism Award is highly regarded by Visit York's tourism members and these awards are the highlight of the year for the city's tourism industry.  A record four hundred and fifty tourism businesses attended.

Now in their 14th year York's tourism ‘Oscars' recognise excellence in the city's tourism sector. The event, compered by BBC Radio York's Adam Tomlinson and sponsored by many of York and Yorkshire's leading businesses, celebrated individuals and companies who offer that extra special service and experience for their visitors.

The highly prized title of York Tourism Ambassador, currently held by Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, was passed on to Ivan Martin and the Association of Voluntary Guides for their commitment to showcasing York to over 700,000 visitors over sixty years.  Celebrating too was Tom Pearcy owner of the York Maze, which scooped the new People's Choice Award. 

Gillian Cruddas MBE, Chief Executive of Visit York said, ‘We're thrilled that the Tourism Ambassador title has gone to Ivan Martin and the Association of Voluntary Guides.  York has an army of brilliant tourism volunteers who do the city proud and we're particularly delighted to be awarding this honour in the sixtieth anniversary year of the Association.  My congratulations also go to all our winners for the excellent job they do in ensuring York's continued tourism success.'

The winners of the Visit York Tourism Awards 2011 are as follows:

 

Hotel of the Year, sponsored by Yorkshire Laundry Services Ltd

Winner

The Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa                                                 

 

Highly Commended

Middlethorpe Hall & Spa

 

Guest Accommodation of the Year, sponsored by NVG

Winner

Low Penhowe

 

Highly Commended

Carlton House

 

Self Catering/Caravan Park of the Year, sponsored by York Hogroast                           

Winner

The Riverside York

 

Pub of the Year, sponsored by Deans Computer Services

Joint Winners

The Black Swan Inn & House of the Trembling Madness

 

Taste of York Award, sponsored by Morrell Middleton

Winner

Melton's Restaurant

 

York & Scarborough Business Tourism Award, sponsored by Saville Audio Visual

Winner

Raven Hall Hotel, Ravenscar

 

Visitor Attraction of the Year (under 50,000 visitors), sponsored by Continuum

Winner

Yorkshire Lavender

 

Highly Commended

Complete Yorkshire

 

Visitor Attraction of the Year (50,000 visitors and over), sponsored by FR Fowler and Son

Winner

Yorkshire Museum

 

Highly Commended

York Racecourse 2010 Race Season

 

Outstanding Customer Service Award, sponsored by Pindar Plc

Winner

Hotel Chocolat

 

Employee of the Year, sponsored by welcometraining.com

Winner

James Borrow, Xing Smoothies

 

Marketing Campaign, Sponsored by Leeds Bradford International Airport

Winner

York Theatre Royal, for the Wind in the Willows

 

My York Favourite  - the People's Choice Award

Winner

York Maze

 

Tourism Ambassador, sponsored by Ware & Kay

Winner

Ivan Martin and the Association of Voluntary Guides                                                           

 

 

 

For further information please contact:

Kay Hyde - PR Manager - Visit York

Direct Line: 01904 554451

Mobile: 07961 828092

Email: kh@visityork.org

 

Katie Porter - PR Executive - Visit York

Direct Line: 01904 554436

Email: kp@visityork.org

 

 

Some key facts about the Association of Voluntary Guides in York:

 

• The York Association of Voluntary Guides was founded in December 1950,  established by City of York Council, concerned to ensure that the heritage and attractions of York were formally presented and promoted during the Festival of Britain in 1951, which featured the re-enactment of the York Mystery Plays.

 

• Today the Association is run independently by volunteers and supported by Visit York

 

• The Association runs around 1,500 free tours annually

 

• Around 12,000 people enjoy a tour every year, which means over 700,000 visitors have enjoyed a tour over the last sixty years

 

• The hours given over 60 years together with the daily tours and prebooked tours is roughly 200,000

 

• Around 4,000 volunteers have guided over the last sixty years.

 

• 91 pre booked tours were conducted in 2010.

 

• Visitors from 68 different nationalities have enjoyed tours, only Greece and Portugal have never been represented.

 

• The very first groups were for the Festival of Britain in 1951 of which there were 93 tours led by the City librarian the curators of the museums and the very first volunteers.

 

Sponsors of the Visit York Tourism Awards Are:

BBC Radio York, the Connoisseur Wine Company, Continuum, Deans Computer Services, Dodsworth's, Fowlers of York, Fulprint, Hotel Chocolat, Jet2.com, Leeds Bradford International Airport, Minster FM, MissDeal Fun Casino, Morrell Middleton, NVG, The Press, P&O Ferries,  Pindar, Saville Audio Visual, Ware & Kay, Welcometraining.com, Yorkshire Laundry Services.

 

ENDS