YORK'S flood-hit conference business is showing signs of recovery.

The conference desk of the First Stop York Partnership at York Tourism Bureau reports signs of a turnaround since media images of an apparently drowning city led to a rush of cancellations.

The Moat House Hotel alone lost an estimated £100,000 worth of business as a result of the floods coverage, says the conference desk.

But the city is now fighting back to restore its conference business worth £75 million a year in revenue, says Kay Hyde, the Tourism Bureau's public relations manager.

And helping the conference desk to spread the word that York remains a top destination for business meetings and incentive travel are 11 big name companies who visited the city to find out what kind of facilities were on offer.

Kay said: "Thirteen highly influential employees from a range of blue chip companies such as Glaxo, Konica, Royal Liver Insurance, Railtrack and Alfred McAlpine Homes enjoyed a two-night break in the city at the invitation of York Tourism Bureau.

"The trip was designed to show off some of York's best conference and meetings facilities, aiming at a return of at least £20,000 worth of revenue for the city. The 13 invitees stayed at the Royal York Hotel and visited many of the city's key conference and meetings venues, including the Mansion House, the Hilton Hotel, the Swallow Hotel, the Monkbar Hotel, Betty's Tea Rooms, St William's College and Castle Howard.

Kate Evans, conference marketing executive at York Tourism Bureau, said she was confident that the visit would bring in valuable bookings.

"Two inquiries have already been received - one a management weekend for 2002 and the other a three-day conference attracting up to 300 delegates. Our efforts are definitely paying off."