York businesses shine at White Rose Awards (From York Press)

York businesses shine at White Rose Awards

11:53am Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News By Julie Hayes, Business editor

YORK tourism business were the stars of Yorkshire at the White Rose Tourism Awards last night.

From 89 shortlisted business, Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa, York won the award for Large Hotel, the York Maze team won Best Customer Service, York Marriott Hotel won the award for business tourism and the Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial won the tourism event category.

About 1,000 people attended the event alongside star guests including Olympic gold medal winners Nicola Adams, Andy Triggs-Hodge and Hannah Cockroft, stars from TV’s Emmerdale and singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin.

Independent chair of judges, Prof Colin Mellors of the University of York, said: “The winners should be commended and rightly so as each and every one deserved their award as they continue to raise the bar across the county – and the nation.”

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, added: “This was another exciting night in the history of Yorkshire tourism. Every winner should be congratulated and these awards give us all the chance to celebrate the creativity, hard work and success of so many tourism businesses.

“Having seen the standard of businesses shortlisted, it seems clear to us that Yorkshire leads where others follow. During the last three years we have seen Yorkshire not only compete on the world stage, but be at the centre of it. And it’s incredible businesses like these which make that possible – that’s why the White Rose Awards plays such a vital role in recognising and celebrating their work.”

The winners:

Small Hotel

Winner: The Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel & Spa

Highly Commended: The Cliffemount Hotel, Runswick Bay

Bed & Breakfast

Winner: The Wold Cottage, Driffield

Large Visitor Attraction

Winner: Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal

Small Visitor Attraction

Winner: Captain Cook Memorial Museum

Restaurant

Winner: Samuel’s at Swinton Park

Highly Commended: Salvo’s, Leeds

Large Hotel

Winner: Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa, York

Taste of Yorkshire

Winner: Drewton’s South Cave, East Yorkshire

Highly Commended: The Cooking School at Dean Clough, Halifax

Pub

Winner: The Star at Harome

Highly Commended: The Star@Sancton

Self-Catering

Winner: High Barn Cottages, Bridlington

Caravan & Camping

Winner: Jollydays Luxury Camping

Outstanding Customer Service

Winner: The York Maze Team

Highly Commended: Shirley Fletcher, of Hilton York and Les Clarke of Pickering & Malton Tourist Information Centres

Arts & Culture

Winner: The Hepworth Wakefield

Highly Commended: Northern Ballet

Tourism Event

Winner: Yorkshire Air Museum & Allied Air Forces Memorial, York

Business Tourism

Winner: York Marriott

Highly Commended: The Spa Bridlington

Visitor Information

Winner: Wakefield Tourist Information Centre

Highly Commended: The Moors National Park Centre, Danby Tourist Information Centre