Yorkshire Tourism Industry Celebrates Excellence
The White Rose Awards, run by tourism agency Welcome to Yorkshire is widely recognised as the most spectacular tourism event of the year. The Awards, a celebration of excellence in the tourism industry, was held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on 19 October.
This site will be regularly updated with news on the White Rose Awards, however for further media information please contact Lucy Allen on 0113 322 3563 or email lallen@yorkshire.com.
| Press Releases |
White Rose glory for Yorkshire region - 20 October 2009
Fifteen Yorkshire businesses are celebrating after being crowned the best in the region at the prestigious White Rose Awards.
Hundreds of people from the tourism industry gathered at the Royal Armouries in Leeds for the region’s ‘tourism Oscars’ organised by official tourism agency, Welcome to Yorkshire. Over 800 guests celebrated and applauded the best of the industry as the fifteen winners were announced. Guest presenters included Christa Ackroyd (BBC presenter), The Lord Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, Jo Willoughby (World Champion Sitskier), and David Lonsdale (Heartbeat actor).
The York region proved the most triumphant area and romped home with five awards, including Tourism Experience of the Year which was won by The Railway Children, a collaboration between York Theatre Royal and the National Railway Museum.
Damian Cruden, Artistic Director from York Theatre Royal said: “We’re absolutely thrilled. We formed a unique partnership with the National Railway Museum to create a truly memorable experience for families from near and far. The show managed to delight everyone who saw it and worked on it and we hope to produce something as equally special soon.”
Wakefield winner Linda Banks from Wakefield Tourist Information Centre proved she had the warmest welcome by winning the Outstanding Customer Service Award. Linda said: “I’m over the moon! It’s an honour to receive this award – I love being an ambassador for Wakefield and really enjoy helping people see the best of our district.”
Barbara Woroncow OBE, Chair of the judges said: “White Rose Award winners are proof of the excellence that exists in our region. Their commitment to raising standards of service and levels of expectation has resulted in Yorkshire’s continuing and rising success as a destination.”
Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “The standard of entrants at this year’s awards has surpassed our expectations and I know the judges have had a really tough job. With the current economic climate, prestigious award ceremonies such as this are all the more important – Yorkshire tourism deserves its moment to congratulate the best of its colleagues and peers and as a region we certainly have a lot to be proud of.”
It has been a record breaking summer for Yorkshire’s tourism industry. Helped by a weak pound and the staycation summer, Yorkshire has outperformed the rest of the UK by reporting increased visitor numbers, increased visitor spend and increased occupancy levels. The sizzling summer figures reflect the success of Welcome to Yorkshire’s ambitious marketing and advertising campaign, which has broken new ground for the tourism agency in its first six months. The TV advertising campaign has been seen by 11 million people while the website, www.yorkshire.com, has had 161million hits since it re-launched in April.
Rosie Winterton, the Minister for Yorkshire and The Humber, said: “I congratulate all the winners and those shortlisted for these awards. They are all a great example of what our region can offer visitors. The government is firmly committed to backing tourism which makes such an important contribution to the national and regional economy. Yorkshire Forward's £30 million investment in Welcome to Yorkshire is part of that commitment by supporting the work to bring more visitors to the region and developing our tourism economy even further.”
Fourteen of the fifteen winners from this year’s White Rose Awards will now be entered into the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2010. Last year Yorkshire won three Gold awards beating of hundreds of other national attractions.
- Ends -
For further media information please contact:
Lucy Allen - Press Officer
Email: lallen@yorkshire.comTel: 0113 3223563
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Beverley Richmond – Press Officer
Email: brichmond@yorkshire.com
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Tel: 0113 322 3505
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FULL LIST OF WHITE ROSE AWARDS WINNERS 2009
Best Tourism Experience of the YearThe Railway Children , York Theatre Royal at the National Railway Museum
Vicky Biles: 01904 550144
vickyb@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
Yorkshire Pub of the Year
Ye Old Sun Inn, Colton, Tadcaster
Ashley / Kelly McCarthy: 01904 744261
ash@yeoldsuninn.co.uk
Business Tourism Award of the Year
Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield
Dominic Stokes: 0114 2233716
d.stikes@sivltd.com
Caravan Holiday Park & Holiday Village Award
Lebberston Touring Park, Lebberston, Scarborough
Mark & Jane Bozeat: 01723 585723
info@lebberstontouring.co.uk
Guest Accommodation of the Year
Cundall Lodge Farm, Cundall, York
Caroline Barker: 01423 360203
info@lodgefarmbb.co.uk
Access for All Tourism Award
The Yorkshire Waterways Museum, Goole
Clare Hunt: 01405 768730
Clare@waterwaysmuseum.org.uk
Hotel of the Year (under 50 bedrooms)
Swinton Park, Swinton, Masham
01765 680900
enquiries@swintonpark.com
Hotel of the Year (35 bedrooms & over)
Best Western, Premier Mount Pleasant Hotel, Doncaster
Richard Tyas: 01302 868696
Richard.tyas@mountpleasant.co.uk
Outstanding Customer Service Award
Linda Banks, Wakefield TIC, Wakefield
Melanie Armitage: 0845 601 8353 / 01924 305000
tic@wakefield.gov.uk
Self Catering/Serviced Apartments Award
Residence 6, Leeds
Vikki Baker: 0113 2856250
Vikki.baker@bridgestreet.com
Sustainable Tourism Award
Crown Spa Hotel, Scarborough
David Frank: 01723 357400
Davidfrank@crownspahotel.com
Taste of Yorkshire Award
Green’s Restaurant, Whitby
Irene Myers: 01947 600284
Irene@irenemyerspr.co.uk
Tourism Event of the Year
York Museums Trust – The Grand Tour, York
Lee Clark: 01904 687670
Lee.clark@ymt.org.uk
Visitor Attraction of the Year (under 50,000 visitors)
Ripley Castle, Ripley
Alison Crawford: 01423 770 152
acrawford@ripleycastle.co.uk
Visitor Attraction of the Year (50,000 visitors & over)
National Railway Museum York
Emma Farley: 01904 685793
Emma.farley@nrm.org.uk
Editors Notes: