A new campaign to increase visitors to the North York Moors will get underway this week as part of a new partnership with Visit York and the National Park Authority.

Today the body responsible for promoting York across the globe has appointed Sean Bullick, former head of Newcastle NE1 Ltd, as its new Managing Director.  Make It York was set up four years ago to promote York as a brilliant place to live, visit, study, work and do business.

Winners in the third annual York Culture Awards have been announced, throwing a spotlight on the creative talent and cultural scene in York. Winners were revealed at a celebration of culture in the city, hosted by BBC Radio York Breakfast Presenter, Georgey Spanswick, which was held last night (Monday 19 November) at York Theatre Royal. The awards ceremony opened with a new film, showcasing the cultural vibrancy of the city, produced by local film maker Ben Porter from Hewitt & Walker.

York will be showcased to an international audience of travel agents, tour operators and media as part of a brand new drive to increase overseas visitors to the city.  The campaign starts next week, Monday 19^th November, in Sanya, Hainan Island, China, where Visit York Marketing Manager, Michelle Brown, will meet face to face with 70 Chinese Tour Operators at VisitBritain’s Destination Britain China sales mission.

A sparkling evening in York is promised on Thursday 15 November, when the Christmas tree lights in St Helen’s Square will be switched on by the Rt Honourable Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Keith Orrell and Lady Mayoress Mrs Judith Orrell, with panto stars Berwick Kaler and Martin Barrass.  This year York’s legendary long-serving dame, Berwick Kaler, will be performing in ‘The Grand Old Dame of York’, at York Theatre Royal, in this his 40^th pantomime.

Finalists for the third annual York Culture Awards have been revealed today.  Taking place at the York Theatre Royal on 19 November, York Culture Awards were created to celebrate excellence in the city’s arts and culture sector.

Quirky historic stories, fun facts and amazingly instagrammable locations; for the very first time York along with 15 of England’s top ranked historic cities including London, have come together  to market themselves in the United States.

The ghosts of York are set to feature in their own map in a new initiative from Visit York to cater for the city’s growing marketing in paranormal tourism!  Locals and visitors alike are being invited to log their supernatural experiences, which will then appear on a live map charting the entities who were unwilling – or unable – to leave their spiritual homes.

Steve Brown, Managing Director of Make It York, has announced today that he will be leaving the company at Christmas.