THE absence of a five-star hotel in York is discouraging top-end conference organisations from coming to the city, it has been revealed at the launch of a new tourism body.
Speaking to a packed conference centre at the Royal York Hotel, Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York (VY) - which celebrated its official business launch at the venue yesterday - said the city could not currently cater for the top end of the conference industry.
Ms Cruddas said: "There are conference organisations at the moment who won't come here because we haven't got the five-star hotel."
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The launch of VY - which senior city officials hope will provide a strategic direction that will "take tourism in York to the next paradigm of success" - saw a panel of four tourism "stake-holders" answer questions on the subject from the audience. In his response to the question of what the panel felt was the need for the planned increase of more than 250 bedrooms in York over the next two years, Bill Woolley, director of city strategy at City of York Council, said: "It's generally accepted that York needs a better range of hotels - particularly at the top end."
City of York MP Hugh Bayley asked the panel if York should seek to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and what such a site's boundaries would be.
Mr Woolley said the status could be a very good thing for York because it "carried a message worldwide."
Posted by: Cruddass is a muppett on 10:04am Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]taddy[/bold] wrote:
Where do Cruddass and family live? Is she aware that York has residents to be considered too? Does she ever use buses etc?Replies wanted.[/quote] The thing is, Gillian Cruddass is definitely dedicated to tourism in York, which is not a bad thing. What annoys me is the way she manipulates the press, and sensationalises York. She should let York be famous for what it is, a historic, small roman town. She wants to turn it into London.
As for the residents of York, they never get considered by any of the powers that be, especially York Council.
taddy wrote:
Where do Cruddass and family live? Is she aware that York has residents to be considered too? Does she ever use buses etc?Replies wanted.
The thing is, Gillian Cruddass is definitely dedicated to tourism in York, which is not a bad thing. What annoys me is the way she manipulates the press, and sensationalises York. She should let York be famous for what it is, a historic, small roman town. She wants to turn it into London.
As for the residents of York, they never get considered by any of the powers that be, especially York Council.
Posted by: sayitasitis, YORK on 10:08am Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]taddy[/bold] wrote:
Where do Cruddass and family live? Is she aware that York has residents to be considered too? Does she ever use buses etc?Replies wanted.[/quote] Dunnington is where she lives,i very much doubt she has ever set foot on a bus, except the open top variety!
taddy wrote:
Where do Cruddass and family live? Is she aware that York has residents to be considered too? Does she ever use buses etc?Replies wanted.
Dunnington is where she lives,i very much doubt she has ever set foot on a bus, except the open top variety!
Posted by: I remember Tommy Forgan, Lancashire on 1:42pm Sat 10 May 08
It saddens me to see what is happening to my home town. No doubt when the 5 star hotel arrives it will be accompanied by even more expensive restaurants, souvenir shops and traffic restrictions.
Sorry to seem cynical but I grew up in York at a time when the city was full of real people.
It saddens me to see what is happening to my home town. No doubt when the 5 star hotel arrives it will be accompanied by even more expensive restaurants, souvenir shops and traffic restrictions.
Sorry to seem cynical but I grew up in York at a time when the city was full of real people.
Posted by: Cruddass is a muppett on 6:48pm Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]I remember Tommy Forgan[/bold] wrote:
It saddens me to see what is happening to my home town. No doubt when the 5 star hotel arrives it will be accompanied by even more expensive restaurants, souvenir shops and traffic restrictions. Sorry to seem cynical but I grew up in York at a time when the city was full of real people.[/quote] If it was that great why did you move to Lancashire.
I remember Tommy Forgan wrote:
It saddens me to see what is happening to my home town. No doubt when the 5 star hotel arrives it will be accompanied by even more expensive restaurants, souvenir shops and traffic restrictions. Sorry to seem cynical but I grew up in York at a time when the city was full of real people.
If it was that great why did you move to Lancashire.
Posted by: Cruddass is a muppett on 6:49pm Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]Cynic[/bold] wrote:
So how exactly will a five-star hotel benefit local people? I rather doubt it will pay its staff much better than other hotels in the city?[/quote] Also, as is the trend with hotels nowadays, hardly any of the staff will be british anyway.
Cynic wrote:
So how exactly will a five-star hotel benefit local people? I rather doubt it will pay its staff much better than other hotels in the city?
Also, as is the trend with hotels nowadays, hardly any of the staff will be british anyway.
Posted by: I remember Tommy Forgan, Lancashire on 8:52pm Sat 10 May 08
[quote][bold]Cruddass is a muppett[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]I remember Tommy Forgan[/bold] wrote:
It saddens me to see what is happening to my home town. No doubt when the 5 star hotel arrives it will be accompanied by even more expensive restaurants, souvenir shops and traffic restrictions. Sorry to seem cynical but I grew up in York at a time when the city was full of real people.[/quote] If it was that great why did you move to Lancashire.[/quote] Fair point - we all make mistakes - and I'd like to move back at some point, despite the way the city has changed. I think you always view your home town as the norm and don't really appreciate it until you move on and see that other places are different.
As Joni Mitchell said, you don't know what you've got till it's gone.
Cruddass is a muppett wrote:
I remember Tommy Forgan wrote:
It saddens me to see what is happening to my home town. No doubt when the 5 star hotel arrives it will be accompanied by even more expensive restaurants, souvenir shops and traffic restrictions. Sorry to seem cynical but I grew up in York at a time when the city was full of real people.
If it was that great why did you move to Lancashire.
Fair point - we all make mistakes - and I'd like to move back at some point, despite the way the city has changed. I think you always view your home town as the norm and don't really appreciate it until you move on and see that other places are different.
As Joni Mitchell said, you don't know what you've got till it's gone.
Posted by: ouserower, york on 10:07pm Sat 10 May 08
Its nothing to do with stars for heavens sake. Its about having good hotels which give great service. Sadly York fails to give that. Old and tired hotels with minimal service is where York excels. Poor training and bad attitude needs to be sorted out first.
Its nothing to do with stars for heavens sake. Its about having good hotels which give great service. Sadly York fails to give that. Old and tired hotels with minimal service is where York excels. Poor training and bad attitude needs to be sorted out first.
There has been talk of a five star hotel in York for years and years. I think there is one going ahead near harrogate on the A59 which will create jobs and give a shot in the arm to the local tourist business. At least some one has the balls to do it!
There has been talk of a five star hotel in York for years and years. I think there is one going ahead near harrogate on the A59 which will create jobs and give a shot in the arm to the local tourist business. At least some one has the balls to do it!
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