York has again beaten the likes of mighty London to land yet another top tourism award.

The city was voted Best UK City by readers of the respected Group Leisure magazine, which serves the group travel industry.

The award was presented to Craig Wilson, marketing manager of York Tourism Bureau, at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel, in London.

It comes just a year after York trounced London to win the Most Group-Friendly City 1999 gong in the Group Travel Organiser magazine travel industry awards.

Voting for the Group Leisure Travel Industry Awards began in January this year and the magazine was inundated with nominations from its readers.

The awards are designed to acknowledge those who put the group and travel trade at the top of their priority list and York tourism chiefs expressed their delight at the city's success in the awards.

Tony Bennett, chairman of the First Stop York tourism partnership, said: "This award shows that York provides an unrivalled service and a quality product to our group organisers."

He added: "The First Stop York tourism partnership and York Tourism Bureau aim to provide group organisers with the tools they require to plan effective, enjoyable and profitable tours.

"Group booking inquiries to York Tourism Bureau have increase by 45 per cent over the last year and the bookings conversion rate is up 62.5 per cent on 1998/1999."

Amanda James, tourism co-ordinator at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, said: "Our group business is increasing all the time. We have, for instance, one Japanese company which organises visits on a regular basis.

"We also see visits from women's institutes, craft groups, art groups, etc. We look after our group organisers and provide them with special discounts if they book in advance.

"We're delighted that this hard work has paid off."

Caroline Sinclair, marketing manager at the National Railway Museum, said: "The NRM has seen a 47 per cent rise in group bookings since the introduction of free admission for the over 60s and a range of new group packages and tours.

"York clearly has a lot to offer and we hope that the city will continue to benefit from increasing visitor numbers."