York Tourism Chief Launches New Marketing Drive - 1 November 2006

Swapping her suit pinstripes for striped pyjamas, Chief Executive of Visit York, Gillian Cruddas, today (Wed 1st November), sampled the delights of breakfast in bed at the Grange Hotel, to launch a new tourism marketing campaign.

Titled 'Stay Longer', this latest marketing drive to bring new tourism income into the city will run from 1st November to 31 March 2006 and offers visitors to York three nights for the price of two.

Aimed at increasing length of stay, the initiative will also spread the benefits of tourism throughout the quieter winter months. Over forty five of the city's guest houses and hotels have joined forces to ensure that visitor numbers don't drop off as the nights start to draw in and new self catering options are also on offer.

Hot croissants, fresh orange juice and a copy of the Times were delivered to Gillian at the Grange, just one of the hotels taking part in the new promotion.

Gillian said, 'It's been great to experience York hospitality at first hand. Though we're at frontline of promoting the city's guest houses and hotels, we rarely have the opportunity to sample them.

Stay Longer encourages visitors to book York when the city needs the business most and acts as an incentive to extend their short break to three nights instead of the usual two. The Grange is one of the city's finest hotels and we're delighted they are backing our new campaign which will also generate increased visitor spend on shopping, eating out and evening entertainment.'

The Stay Longer promotion will offer a price to suit every pocket with rates starting at just £52 per person (total cost) for a three night stay. Stay Longer guests can also buy a three day York Pass (allowing entry into thirty visitor attractions) for the price of two days at a cost of £25 - saving £7.

The promotion will be marketed through a national advertising campaign, e marketing, direct mail to a database of 30,000, the www.visityork.org website and a press and PR campaign.

Visitors need to quote the 'Stay Longer' offer when booking at the Visitor Information Centres. Tel 01904 550088.

ENDS

Press Contact: Kay Hyde, PR Manager, Visit York Tel 01904 554451 or Sarah Lilleyman, PR Assistant, Visit York. Tel: 01904 554436