York Tourism Bureau today revealed the finalists in this year's hotly-contested annual tourism awards.

Sponsored by Arriva Trains Northern as well as 15 other companies from the region, the awards always attract fierce competition, and this year is no exception.

A win in these awards is the official recognition of a company or individual's commitment to excellence in customer service in and around the city, and now the judges have to choose 16 winners out of the shortlist of 52.

Included in the 16 categories is the award of Ambassador for Tourism.

This award goes to someone who has gone beyond the call of duty to encourage more visitors to the beautiful, historic city of York.

Gillian Cruddas, Chief Executive of York Tourism Bureau said: "This award is particularly difficult to judge because there are many individuals in the city who go out of their way to make York a tourist-friendly city. This

award will go to someone who has demonstrated endless energy and commitment to our industry."

Christine Talbot, of Yorkshire Television's Calendar programme, will be presenting the awards at a prestigious ceremony in the new Ebor stand at York Racecourse on Friday, November 14.

Shortlisted are:

Guest House (sponsored by Barry Crux & Co) - Arnot House,

Beech House, the Farthings Guest House, Midway House.

Self-Catering/Caravan (sponsored by York Tourist Information Centres) - Westgate Apartments, Robin Hood Caravan Park, Griffon Forest Holiday Lodges.

Hotel (sponsored by the Coppergate Shopping Centre) - the Monkbar Hotel, the Holiday Inn, the Hilton, the Dean Court Hotel.

Conference Venue (sponsored by Saville Audio Visual) - the

Monkbar Hotel, the Grange Hotel, the York Marriott, York Moat House, the National Centre for Early Music

Shop (sponsored by Jespers) - Hobbs, the Japanese Shop,

Fenwicks

Restaurant/pub (sponsored by Morrell Middleton) - Rish, the

Sangthai restaurant, the Lime House

Small Attraction (sponsored by North Wolds printers) - the

Merchant Adventurers' Hall, Roam'in Tours, the Treasurer's House

Out of Town Attraction (sponsored by the First Stop York

tourism partnership) - Newby Hall, the World of James Herriott, Castle Howard

Large Attraction - more than 60,000 visitors (sponsored by

GNER) - the Yorkshire Air Museum, Jorvik, the National Railway Museum, York Minster.

Festival/Entertainment (sponsored by Wallace Arnold) - York Early Music Festival, York Barbican Centre for the World Snooker Championships

Newcomer (sponsored by Great Potential) - The Bay Tree Guest

House, the Japanese Shop, York's Maize Maze and Apple House.

Websites (sponsored by York TV)

www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

www.ncem.co.uk

www.yorkboat.co.uk

www.thisisyork.co.uk

www.yorkmysteryplays.org

Tourism For All (sponsored by the University of York) - Castle Howard, Merchant Adventurers' Hall, Shopmobility, York Theatre Royal.

Marketing Campaign (sponsored by York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce) - Roam'in Tours, York Museums Trust, the National Railway Museum.

Travel Journalist (sponsored by York Tourism Bureau) - winner to

be announced on November 14

Ambassador for Tourism (sponsored by Arriva Trains Northern) - winner to be announced on November 14.

Updated: 08:44 Thursday, October 30, 2003