TOURISM businesses with something to shout about are being urged to enter the Visit York Tourism Awards.

Excellence within the industry will be recognised at a celebration evening on Thursday, June 20, rewarding outstanding service, innovation and quality.

Entries are officially now open with 16 categories to vye for, including two new ones: tourism supplier of the year and innovation in tourism.

The awards will be held in the Great Hall of the National Railway Museum.

Businesses from across the city, from hotels to restaurants, pubs to visitor attractions have until Monday, March 4 to submit their entries.

Paul Whiting, head of Visit York, said: “Our awards recognise the best of the best in the tourism sector, across the city and beyond.

"They reward businesses who continually offer that extra special service for York’s 6.9 million visitors. Winning is both prestigious and a validation of the hard work that goes into offering an award-winning experience and we look forward to celebrating all the winners at the ceremony in June.”

The 16 award categories for 2019 are for best bed and breakfast or guest house of the year, café or tearoom, conference venue, hotel, newcomer of the Year, pub or bar, restaurant, self-catering venue, shop, visitor attraction (over 50,000 visitors), visitor attraction (under 50,000), visitor experience, guided tour, tourism supplier, innovation in tourism and the Visit York tourism champion 2019.

The Tourism Champion recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to York’s tourism industry.

A panel of independent judges will decide on the final shortlist and winners through a mix of mystery shopping by Insight6 and rigorous analysis against the entry criteria.

Businesses can download the forms and enter the Visit York Tourism Awards online at visityork.co.uk/awards 

Winners can then go forward to the regional White Rose Awards and national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

Visit York is a part of Make It York and is the leisure tourism brand.

Here's a reminder of the 2018 Visit York Tourism Award Winners:

B&B of the Year: Sponsored by Kashing, Winner: No.21 York

Café or Tearoom of the Year: Sponsored by Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors, Winner: The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Café

Conference Venue of the Year: Sponsored by Saville Audio Visual. Winner: York Racecourse

Family Friendly Experience of the Year: Sponsored by P&O Ferries, Winner: York Maze

Guided Tour of the Year: Sponsored by Colour Options. Winner: York Cycling Tours

Hotel of the Year: Sponsored by Streamline Taxis. Winner: Grays Court

Newcomer of the Year: Sponsored by Hungate York Regeneration. Winner: Askham Bryan Wildlife & Conservation Park

Outstanding Customer Service: Sponsored by Manchester Airport. Winner: Anna Bialochleb - The Whippet Inn Steak & Alehouse

Pub or Bar of the Year: Sponsored by Hunter Gee Holroyd. Winner: Chapter House York

Restaurant of the Year: Sponsored by Insure It Angels. Winner: Hudson’s by Craig Atchinson at The Grand Hotel & Spa

Self-catering Venue of the Year: Sponsored by Yorkshire Laundry Services. Winner: The Dovecote Barns

Shopping Experience of the Year: Sponsored by Yorwaste Ltd. Winner: Azendi

Visitor Attraction of the Year (Over 50,000 Visitors): Sponsored by F.R.Fowler & Son. Winner: JORVIK Viking Centre

Visitor Attraction of the Year (Under 50,000 Visitors): Sponsored by Jelf. Winner: York Army Museum

Visitor Experience of the Year: Sponsored by Yorkshire Gas and Power. Winner: York Racecourse

Wedding Venue of the Year: Sponsored by Ambience Venue Styling. Winner: National Railway Museum

Visit York Tourism Champion 2018: Sponsored by Visit York. Awarded to: Ann Deller