TOURISM chiefs were celebrating today after winning the industry's version of the Oscar at a ceremony in York.

The Yorkshire Tourist Board White Rose Awards 2004 were held at a gala dinner and award ceremony last night at the National Railway Museum, York, and the winners were chosen from a shortlist of 55 finalists competing in 11 categories.

The awards were created 15 years ago to recognise and reward excellence in tourism, the region's largest industry which employs 165,000 people and is worth £4.2 billion annually. The names of the award winners were kept a closely guarded secret until the gold envelope was opened in front of an audience of nervous, hopeful finalists and guests.

The awards were presented by BBC Look North presenters Harry Gration and Christa Ackroyd.

Among the local winners was the National Railway Museum. It won the conference venue of the year and was also one of the finalists in the visitor attraction of the year.

DCH, the restaurant at The Dean Court Hotel, York, scooped the local food in tourism award and was a finalist in the hotel of the year up to 50 bedrooms category.

For the first time this year, two additional categories were added, Yorkshire pub of the year, in conjunction with the Yorkshire branch of the British Pub and Beer Association, and Yorkshire Top Tourist, an extra award run in association with the BBC.

The latter was won by Swedish-born Liza Rameryd, who works at the Swedish Embassy in Washington and fell in love with Yorkshire when she first visited in 1991.

She has visited the county every autumn since 1997 and stays with friends in Stamford Bridge and Scarborough.

Top of Liza's tourist destinations are Betty's in York, Castle Howard, Helmsley, Whitby, Robin Hood's Bay, Pickering and Thirsk.

Mr Gration, who presented Liza with her award, said: "Liza's love of Yorkshire really came across in her entry and she is a very deserving winner - she is a wonderful champion for the county and always telling people they should visit here."

David Andrews, chief executive of Yorkshire Tourist Board, said: "Year after year the quality and diversity of tourism product in our region increases.

"As an industry tourism internationally has gone from strength to strength and in Yorkshire we recognise that competition elsewhere means you must constantly strive to improve your product.

"Every one of the finalists here this evening deserves congratulations."

The winners are:

Guest Accommodation

of the Year

The winner was The Moorlands Country House Hotel, Levisham, and local finalist One3Two, York

Hotel of the Year

(30 bedrooms

and over)

The local finalists were The Aldwark Manor at Alne and Forest Pines Hotel, Broughton, and the category winner was Radisson SAS Hotel, Leeds

Hotel of the Year

(up to 50 bedrooms)

The local finalists were The Dean Court Hotel, York; Hazlewood Castle, Tadcaster; and Middlethorpe Hall, Hotel Restaurant and Spa, York; Coniston Hotel, Skipton, and the category winner was the Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel, Bolton Abbey

Self Catering Holiday

of the Year

Local finalists Life Hill Farm, Sledmere; Brimham Rocks Cottages, Harrogate; and Beech Farm Cottages, Wrelton, and the category winner was Faweather Grange, High Eldwick.

Caravan Park of the Year

The winner was Jasmine Park, at Snainton, with local finalist Lebberston Touring Park.

Tourism Website of the Year

Yorkboat; Beech Farm Cottages, Wrelton; and Discovery Accommodation, Whitby, were the local finalists with Ripley Castle Estate the winner

Conference Venue of the Year

Won by the National Railway Museum, York, with Pavilions of Harrogate named among the finalists.

Visitor attraction of the Year

Local finalists were the National Railway Museum, York; Scarborough Sea Life Centre and Marine Sanctuary, with the winner The Royal Armouries, Leeds.

Visitor Attraction of the Year

The World of James Herriot, Thirsk, won the award with local finalists the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York; Waterways Museum, Goole; Yorkshire Lavender, Terrington; and the National Trust at Treasurer's House, York.

Best Newcomer to Tourism

Local finalists were Field House Farm Cottages, Sewerby, and Wold's Way Lavender, Wintringham. Jet2.com, Leeds, was named as the winner.

Local Food in Tourism Award

Won by DCH, the restaurant at the Dean Court Hotel, York. Local finalist was Hazlewood Castle, Tadcaster.

Tourist Information Centre

of the Year

Pickering TIC was the local finalist and Grassington TIC the winner.

Outstanding Customer Service

The winner was Derek Scales, at Scarborough Sea Life Centre and Marine Sanctuary. Local finalists were the Wood family, Lastingham, Mandy Pickard, at Scarborough TIC, and the staff at York TIC

Yorkshire Pub of the Year

The White Bear, Masham, was the winner with finalists the Crab and Lobster, Asenby, and the Stone Trough Inn, Kirkham Abbey

Updated: 10:08 Friday, October 08, 2004