A RECORD year for hotel occupancy has been reported in York as 2014 saw the city enjoy its best summer and a strong festive finish to the year.

New figures compiled by tourism agency Visit York through a survey of its members revealed a strong year for hoteliers in 2014 with both room occupancy and room rates on the up.

Throughout the year a record 83 per cent of hotel rooms were occupied, up three per cent from 2013, while average room rates rose six per cent to £80.79.

The 2014 research recorded three consecutive record breaking summer months for hotel room occupancy in July, August and September, while December saw a month of growth compared to the previous year.

Visits to attractions were up four per cent to 152,283 from December 2013, while use of the York Pass was up eight per cent to 2,644, city centre footfall was up seven per cent, room occupancy was up five per cent to 81 per cent, and room rates were up six per cent to £83.60.

Visitor numbers to the city's attractions were down by five per cent compared to 2013, with 3.1 million people through the doors.

However Visit York researchers say 2013 was a record year due to the Mallard75 event at the National Railway Museum, with 2014 subsequently coming out as the second best year for visits to attractions.

Despite overall attraction visitor numbers falling, Clifford's Tower and York's Chocolate Story said 2014 was their best ever year, while York Dungeon reported its best ever Halloween Week.

Kate McMullen, head of Visit York said: "This is fantastic news for our tourism sector. We’re delighted.

"In 2005 tourism revenue exceeded £300 million for the first time and today we’re well on our way to doubling this figure.

"We’re extremely fortunate in York to have a thriving tourism sector with a wealth of first class visitor attractions, festivals and superb shopping.

"Our role is to harness everything that’s good about the city and ensure we spread this message locally, nationally and internationally, putting York firmly on the map for both leisure and business visitors."

Visit York also said its Information Centre saw record footfall.

The latest economic figures from York's tourism industry, recorded in 2013, show York welcomes 6.7 million visitors annual, who collectively spend £573 million in the city.

The industry supports 19,000 jobs in York, with 96 per cent of all leisure visitors coming from elsewhere in the UK.

In total 5.8 million leisure visitors were made, of which 79 per cent were day visits and 21 per cent overnight stays.

Of the overseas visitors most came of the US, making up 18 per cent of the 230,000 total, with Australia in third place at 16 per cent followed by France with seven per cent.