THE SIXTY finalists of this year's Visit York Tourism Awards are being revealed today as the city's biggest industry awards celebrate a record crop of entries.
The awards, which are being held on June 21 at the National Railway Museum, shine a spotlight on excellence in tourism and reward outstanding service, innovation and quality.
A 500-strong audience from across York’s tourism sector is expected to attend the black-tie ceremony in the grand Station Hall after more than 130 submitted their entries.
A panel of independent judges will now review the shortlist of businesses from hotels to restaurants and pubs to visitor attractions to decide who will scoop one of the 17 award titles, through a mix of mystery shopping and rigorous analysis against the entry criteria.
Sally Greenaway, head of Visit York, said: "The standard of entries has been higher than ever this year.
"Now the mystery shopper visits start and businesses will need to demonstrate exceptional levels of customer service to win.
"We wish everyone the very best of luck and are excited to reveal the winners on June 21.”
Winners from the 17 categories, which include Visitor Attraction of the Year, Pub or Bar of the Year, Restaurant of the Year and Shopping Experience of the Year, will have the opportunity to go forward to the regional White Rose Awards and national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.
This year sees the introduction of a new award category, the Wedding Venue of the Year award which shines the spotlight on York’s popularity as a place to tie the knot.
The awards will also crown a Tourism Champion of the Year, which is a surprise accolade announced on the night. Last year's Tourism Champion was named as Shanghai-raised businessman Will Zhuang who was singled out for the award in honour of his services promoting York to the city’s growing Chinese visitor market.
This year's Visit York Tourism Awards ceremony will be compered by Minster FM breakfast presenters Ben Fry and Roxanne Pallett.
So who are the Visit York Tourism Awards 2018 Finalists?
B&B or Guest House of the Year
Goldsborough Hall
No. 21 York
Tower Guest House
Café or Tearoom of the Year
The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Café
The Black Swan, Helmsley
The Garden Room at The Principal York
Conference Venue of the Year
Lakeside Conference Centre
The Principal York
York Racecourse
Family Friendly Experience of the Year
Explore York Library & Archive
The Web Adventure Park
York Maze
York Castle Museum - A Victorian Christmas
Guided Tour of the Year
Brewtown Tours
The Bloody Tour of York
Tours in a Dish
York Cycling Tours
Hotel of the Year
Doubletree by Hilton, York
Grays Court
The Grand Hotel & Spa, York
The Principal York
Newcomer of the Year
Askham Bryan Wildlife & Conservation Park
Fortyfive Vinyl Café
The Rise Restaurant, Terrace and Bar at The Grand Hotel & Spa, York
The Shop That Must Not Be Named
Valhalla York
Outstanding Customer Service
Nikki Hopwood (Raithwaite Hall)
Wayne Brady (The Grand Hotel & Spa, York)
Rhianna Thomson (Hilton York)
Anna Bialochleb (The Whippet Inn Steak & Alehouse)
Pub or Bar of the Year
The Blue Bell
Chapter House York
The Whippet Inn Steak & Alehouse
Walmgate Ale House
Restaurant of the Year
Ambiente Tapas Fossgate
The Gallery at The Black Swan
Hudsons by Craig Atchinson at The Grand Hotel & Spa
The Whippet Inn Steak & Alehouse
Walmgate Ale House
Self-catering Venue of the Year
Goodramgate Apartments
Studford Luxury Lodges
The Dovecote Barns
Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges & Snug Huts
Shopping Experience of the Year
Azendi
Cuffs & Co
Rafi’s Spicebox
Visitor Attraction of the Year (Over 50,000 Visitors)
City Cruises York
JORVIK Viking Centre
Yorkshire Museum
Visitor Attraction of the Year (Under 50,000 Visitors)
Askham Bryan Wildlife & Conservation Park
Barley Hall
National Centre for Birds of Prey
York Army Museum
Visitor Experience of the Year
Hallowscream at York Maze
The Bloody Tour of York
York Racecourse
Wedding Venue of the Year
National Centre for Early Music
National Railway Museum
The Amazing Wedding Company at York Maze
York Racecourse
Tourism Champion
To be announced at the awards ceremony
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