YORK and North Yorkshire's tourism industry has received a welcome boost as its businesses are set to dominate the final of the region's tourism "Oscars".
More than half the 55 finalists in the Yorkshire Tourist Board's White Rose Awards 2004 are from York and North Yorkshire.
Nine of the shortlisted businesses are from York while 22 are based in North Yorkshire.
This is compared to five Leeds businesses making the final cut and Hull is competing for just two awards, for its attraction The Deep.
The National Railway Museum in York is battling it out for two awards - the conference venue of the year award and the award for the best visitor attraction in the region with more than 100,000 visitors.
York's Dean Court Hotel is also set for success as it was named as a finalist for the Hotel of the Year award for hotels with up to 50 bedrooms. Its restaurant, DCH, made it to the final few in the Local Food in Tourism Award.
But it is pitted against Tadcaster hotel, Hazlewood Castle, which is also up for the same two awards. And Middlethorpe Hall, in Bishopthorpe, York is also hopeful of winning the award for hotels with up to 50 bedrooms.
Other York businesses in the final include One3Two, in Tadcaster Road, which is hoping to win Guest Accommodation of the Year; Yorkboat, which is striving to pick up the Tourism Website of the Year award; and the Merchant Adventurers' Hall and the Treasurer's House, which are both competing for the award for Visitor Attraction of the Year with under 100,000 visitors. North Yorkshire finalists include Aldwark Manor, Alne, (Hotel of the Year, 30 bedrooms and over), Scarborough Sea Life and Marine Sanctuary, (Visitor Attraction of the Year 100,000 visitors and over), Yorkshire Lavender, Terrington, (Visitor Attraction of the Year under 100,000 visitors) and Wolds Way Lavender, Wintringham, (Best Newcomer).
All 11 categories have finalists from the North Yorkshire area.
The winners will be announced at a glitzy ceremony at the National Railway Museum on October 7.
Until then, the winners will remain one of the region's best-kept secrets.
Updated: 09:52 Tuesday, June 22, 2004
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