FINALISTS for York’s tourism Oscars - aimed at shining a spotlight on excellence in the city’s vital industry - have been revealed by Visit York.
The annual Visit York Tourism Awards will be presented on June 22 in the grand Station Hall of the National Railway Museum.
One hundred and thirty businesses from across the city, from hotels and restaurants to pubs and visitor attractions, submitted entries and 63 finalists have been selected.
 A panel of independent judges will now decide on who will scoop an Oscar, through a mix of mystery shopping and rigorous analysis against the entry criteria.

York Press:


Sally Greenaway, head of Visit York, said the standard of entries had been higher than ever this year.
“Winning a Visit York Tourism Award enables businesses to stand out and the awards are also a brilliant marketing tool,” she said.
“Now the mystery shopper visits start and businesses will need to demonstrate exceptional levels of customer service to win.We wish everyone the very best of luck and are excited to reveal the winners on June 22.”
The fifteen award categories for 2017 are B&B of the Year, Café or Tearoom of the Year, Conference Venue of the Year, Family Friendly Experience of the Year, Hotel of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Outstanding Customer Service, Pub of the Year, Restaurant of the Year, Self-catering Venue of the Year, Shopping Experience of the Year, Visitor Attraction of the Year – over 50,000 visitors, Visitor Attraction of the Year – under 50,000 visitors and Visitor Experience of the Year. 
A new award has been introduced this year; the Visit York Outstanding Contribution award and the recipient will also be announced at the ceremony in June.
Winners will have the opportunity to go forward to the regional White Rose Awards and national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
Finalists in the Family Friendly Experience of the Year contest are The Bloody Tour of York, York Art Gallery, York Maze and Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland.
B&B of the Year finalists are Carr House Farm Bed and Breakfast, Lil’s on the Waterfront, Bar Convent Guest House and Tower Guest House.
Café or Tearoom of the Year are Countess of York at the NRM, El Piano, Balloon Tree Farmshop & Café and The Garden Room at the Principal York.
Conference Venue of the Year finalists are The Bar Convent, the National Centre for Early Music, The Principal York and York Science Park.
Other finalists are: Hotel of the Year: Feversham Arms Hotel & Verbena Spa,Hotel du Vin York, Hotel Indigo York, The Black Swan Hotel and The Principal York.
 Newcomer of the Year: Brew York Craft Brewery & Tap Room, Can You Escape? York, Joe’s Kitchen, Staycity Paragon Street York, The Botanist York.
 Outstanding Customer Service: Alison Storey (York Racecourse) , Anna Bialockleb (The Whippet Inn Steak & Alehouse) ,Damian Palmer-Bunting (Robin Hood Caravan & Camping Park) ,Edward Kelly (Staycity Aparthotels) Frank Caulfield (Dean Court Hotel).
 Pub of the Year: Pairings Wine Bar, The Blue Bell, The Chapter House at The Principal York, The Drovers Arms, Thomas’s of York Pub & Kitchen
 Restaurant of the Year, Ambiente Tapas, Melton’s Restaurant, The Drovers Arms Restaurant & Country Pub, The Raj, The Weathervane Restaurant, Helmsley and Whippet Inn Steak & Alehouse.
 Self-catering Venue of the Year: Forest Holidays, Robin Hood Caravan & Camping Park
The Old Brewery, York and York Stay Holidays
 Shopping Experience of the Year: Bishy Road, Käthe Wohlfahrt, Pandora’s Box and Seasalt
 Visitor Attraction of the Year (Over 50,000 Visitors): Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum, Energi Trampoline Park York, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, York Dungeon and York Art Gallery
 Visitor Attraction of the Year (Under 50,000 Visitors):Go Ape Dalby, National Centre for Birds of Prey, The Bloody Tour of York and York Army Museum
 Visitor Experience of the Year: BOBH - Day Trips from York, Eboracum Roman Festival, Hallowscream at York Maze and Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland.