York’s digital gateway to tourists has seen off national competition to land the title Best Travel Website for group visits.
Visit York’s online platform, visityork.org, won the honour at the tourism industry’s Group Leisure Awards, held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Wednesday night (September 18). The awards are voted for by organisers of group travel.
Visit York overcame competition from fellow finalists londonandpartners.com, visitengland.com and GroupAccommodation.com.
“We’re delighted to be awarded Best Travel Website,” said Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York. “We pride ourselves on our service for groups coming into York.
“Group tourism generates in excess of £25 million annual spend in York, so ensuring we look after group organisers is crucial in boosting our healthy tourism economy.”
Awards were presented by Group Leisure Magazine editor Rob Yandell, alongside special guest presenter, former England rugby international and television presenter, Martin Bayfield.
Rob Yandell said: “With so much competition, it’s a real testament to the team at Visit York that its website has been voted best by Group Leisure readers this year.”
Visityork.org was launched in November 2012 and generates over two million unique visits a year. The new website revamped of its four microsites, which includes groupvisityork.com.
As a result, Visit York saw a 57 per cent increase in group travel enquiries in the six months following the re-launch.
The organisation’s website is also a finalist in the Travolution Awards, which will be held in October.