YORK Tourism Bureau has unveiled the finalists in this year's hotly-contested tourism awards.

The annual event celebrates commitment to excellence in customer service by individuals and companies, and judges have the hard task of choosing 12 winners out of the 30-strong shortlist.

York's tourism "Oscars" are this year sponsored by Leeds Bradford International Airport and Jet2.com, along with 11 other companies from the Yorkshire region.

Categories honour the very best places to stay, eat and play, as well as marking excellence in marketing, travel writing and customer service.

Included in the awards is the highly-prized Ambassador for Tourism accolade, which goes to someone who has gone beyond the call of duty to encourage more visitors to York. Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said: "This award is particularly difficult to judge because there are many individuals in the city who go out of their way to make York a tourist friendly place. It will go to someone who has demonstrated endless energy and commitment to our industry."

The winners will be announced at a prestigious ceremony at York Racecourse on Thursday, November 11, hosted by Clare Frisby, from BBC's Look North, and Tom Wright, chief executive of Visit Britain.

The shortlisted categories are:

Guest House / Self-Catering (sponsored by Coppergate Centre) - Acer Hotel, Holmwood House Hotel, Monkbridge Court, The Manor House.

Hotel (sponsored by Morrell Middleton) - Aldwark Manor, Middlethorpe Hall, Four High Petergate, the Dean Court Hotel, the Hilton.

Conference Business (sponsored by Saville Audio Visual) - Alphasound, the National Centre for Early Music, York Minster Conference and Banqueting.

Shop (sponsored by Jespers) - The Japanese Shop, the Antiques Centre York, Azendi.

Eating Place (sponsored by Barry Crux and Company) - Rish Restaurant, the Sangthai Restaurant, Treasurer's House.

Attaction (sponsored by GNER) - The Merchant Adventurers' Hall, NRM, The Ghost Trail of York, the World of James Herriott.

Festival/Event (sponsored by Wallace Arnold Tours Ltd) - Yorkshire Air Museum, York Comedy Festival.

Marketing Campaign (sponsored by Biskit) - Roamin' Tours, the National Railway Museum.

Website (sponsored by University of York) - The National Centre for Early Music, the Japanese Shop, The Dreaming, Yorkshire Air Museum, the Merchant Adventurers' Hall.

Other awards:

Travel Journalist (sponsored by First Stop York tourism partnership), Outstanding Customer Service (sponsored by York and North Yorkshire

Chamber of Commerce), and Ambassador (sponsored by Leeds Bradford International Airport and Jet2.com).

Updated: 11:07 Monday, November 01, 2004