PEOPLE working in York's tourism industry have celebrated their own version of the Oscars.

The Awards For Excellence were held at a glittering Oscar's-style bash at the National Railway Museum yesterday attended by 340 people.

The awards celebrate and reward the people who work within York's tourism and hospitality industry but, unlike other schemes, it is the staff members and not the businesses who win the awards.

The Monkbar Hotel scooped a rare double by retaining the hotel's title at tourism employer of the Year.

In other awards, Evening Press news editor Scott Armstrong presented Steve Youle of Premier Travel Inn with the prestigious customer care award while, overall, the Holiday Inn came away with the largest clutch of awards.

For the Holiday Inn, Gina Foster came up trumps in the trainee category, while Steve Tomlin won chef of the year and Sarah Hunter scooped the sales, administration or reservations gong.

Updated: 10:12 Tuesday, March 15, 2005