The race is on for the 2020 White Rose Awards, after the application process officially opened.
The event recognises the very best tourism businesses in Yorkshire and is the biggest celebration of its kind in the UK.
With 19 categories, and businesses and organisations able to enter multiple awards, the prize is a coveted White Rose Award trophy which will be presented at a glitzy ceremony towards the end of the year.
Most winners will also get the chance to progress through to the national Visit England Awards for Excellence – where the local and national categories fully align.
For 2020 there are two brand new awards for “casual” and “fine dining” under the banner of Taste of Yorkshire. These will run alongside all the classic awards covering food and drink, the arts, events, accommodation and attractions and new categories introduced in 2019 like Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism and Accessible and Inclusive Tourism.
James Mason, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, the organiser and official place marketing organisation for the county, said: “These awards are so special as they truly recognise the absolute cream of the crop in tourism right across Yorkshire.
"People work flat out 365 days a year to make Yorkshire the best place to visit. From the smallest B&Bs to our biggest hotels, from our corner cafes to our Michelin starred restaurants, from world-renowned arts companies to the hottest outdoor attractions, I’m so proud to be able to celebrate all the graft that goes into making Yorkshire a top-class destination.”
Members can enter for free, but fees apply for those not on board. All finalists will receive one free ticket to the awards, as part of the entry conditions. The event location is still to be revealed, with Welcome to Yorkshire currently in conversation with a number of venues across the county.
William’s Den in North Cave was a double winner in 2019, taking both the Ethical & Sustainable Tourism and New Tourism Business Award.
Owner Tor Carver said: “Winning not one but two prestigious White Rose Awards in November was absolutely incredible, for us as owners, for our team, our loyal friends and visitors. We also benefitted from lots of PR & social media coverage afterwards and winning has helped secure William’s Den’s position in what is a highly competitive market in Yorkshire and beyond. Thank you Welcome to Yorkshire we’ll definitely be entering the White Rose Awards again this year.”
Welcome to Yorkshire is running a number of award workshops across the county with top tips to make sure your entry is the best it can possibly be, with William’s Den on board to host one too.
Full entry details can be found on the White Rose Awards website where there is also an example application form.
