HOTELS, restaurants, pubs and visitor attractions which are in the running for annual awards celebrating the cream of York’s tourism crop have today been revealed.

The list of 60 finalists for the VisitYork Tourism Awards also includes shops, conference venues, cafes and tearooms, caravan parks and individuals who have played their part in ensuring the city gives visitors a warm welcome, with the winners of 14 categories being announced at a ceremony on May 8.

This year’s awards will see a public vote to decide on the best B&B in York, with tourism agency Visit York launching an online campaign to encourage those who have stayed in the city to support their favourite guest house. A national Twitter and Facebook campaign is also now seeking nominations for this category.

The black-tie ceremony in the National Railway Museum’s Station Hall will also reveal the winner ofthe 2014 Tourism Ambassador title, which remains a secret until the night itself.

Winners of each category will have the chance to be entered into the regional White Rose Awards and the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

The finalists were announced today by York Theatre Royal’s artistic director Damian Cruden, the city’s current tourism ambassador – an accolade given to the person who strives the absolute hardest to “fly the flag” for the city of York .

Previous winners of the coveted award have included the city’s famed pantomime dame Berwick Kaler and the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, Visit York’s head Kate McMullen said: “The Visit York Tourism Awards are a great opportunity for York’s tourism businesses to showcase the high standards being achieved in our world-class city.

“In a growing global tourism market, it’s vitally important we recognise and acknowledge excellence to ensure York retains its competitive edge.”

Sponsors of the awards include Saville AV, FR Fowler and Son, Leeds Bradford International Airport, Morrell Middleton and P&O Ferries.

Nominations for York’s best B&B can be made until midnight on March 24 and finalists will be confirmed on March 31, when public voting for the winner will start, and visitors can root for their favourite at facebook.com/visityork and twitter.com/visityork using the hashtag #faveyorkbnb

Among last year’s well-deserved winners were Middlethorpe Hall Hotel and Spa, York Cocoa House and the Golden Fleece pub, all of which are looking to repeat that success this time, with the Mystery Plays being named best visitor experience.

 

How they line up

VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR – UNDER 50,000 VISITORS
Goddards - National Trust
York Quilt Museum and Gallery
York Cold War Bunker
York MotorSports Village
Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland

VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR – OVER 50,000 VISITORS
Beningbrough Hall, Gallery & Gardens
Castle Howard
National Railway Museum
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
York Maze
York Racecourse

VISITOR EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
JORVIK Viking Festival
Kaboom
Mallard 75, National Railway Museum
York Cycle Tour - Scoot Cycling Holidays
Hallowscream - York Maze

SHOPPING EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR
Monk Bar Model Shop
Pandora York
York’s CHOCOLATE Story
York Cocoa House
York Does Vintage - Now and Then Group

CONFERENCE VENUE OF THE YEAR
The Merchant Taylors Hall
National Railway Museum
Novotel York
York Conferences
York Racecourse

HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Best Western York Pavilion Country House Hotel
The National Trust’s Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
Novotel York
The Parsonage Hotel & Spa
Raithwaite Hall

CARAVAN PARK OF THE YEAR
Cawood Holiday Park
Naburn Lock Caravan Park
Robin Hood Caravan Park

SELF-CATERING OF THE YEAR
The Dovecote Barns
High Dalby House Cottages
The Old Brewery
Old Gallery & Chamber Apartments
The Riverside - York
Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges & Shepherd Hut

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
Greg Palmer – Best Western Monkbar Hotel
Marcus Naylor - The Golden Fleece
Sandra & David Wreglesworth - High Dalby House & Cottages
Jade Kelly - Holiday Inn York
Rebecca & Damian Palmer-Bunting - Robin Hood Caravan Park
Jeanette Hutchinson - York Marriott Hotel

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
El Piano
Lascelles Restaurant at the Parsonage Hotel & Spa
The Oak Room at Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
The Raj
The Whippet Inn Steak and Ale House

CAFE/TEAROOM OF THE YEAR
Crumbs Cupcakery
El Piano
Kafeneion
York Cocoa House

PUB/BAR OF THE YEAR
The Golden Fleece
Guy Fawkes Inn
House of the Trembling Madness
The Three Tuns
The Whippet Inn Steak and Ale House

BED AND BREAKFAST OF THE YEAR
Finalists to be announced March 31

TOURISM AMBASSADOR
To be announced May 8