Groups flock to Skipton, North Yorkshire

June 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Destination Skipton, an initiative designed to encourage visitors to use Skipton as a base for exploring the surrounding area, was launched in September 2011 at a national group travel trade show. Following a comprehensive sales and marketing campaign, , Skipton’s Rendezvous Hotel – the town’s main accommodation provider for groups – has reported new record averages of 1000 room bookings per month from visitors staying as part of a group.

Now, the hotel’s owner is urging more businesses in the town to get behind the initiative and grab their share of the group travel market.

Malcolm Weaving, who runs the eighty bedroom hotel with wife Karen, said,

“In recent months we’ve seen a huge increase in groups choosing Skipton as a destination, not merely as a stopover. Many people traveling in groups are retired with a good disposable income so they’re hugely important to the area’s visitor economy. Some also return later as individual visitors to spend more time in the area.”

“Other hospitality, tourism and retail businesses  in Skipton can also benefit from Destination Skipton, including featuring on the website free of charge for six months and promoting their services in our guest information area.” he added.

Gary Verity, Chief Executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said,

'With its castle, market, awarding-winning high street, waterways and surrounding countryside, Skipton has so much to offer visitors and the Rendezvous does a terrific job, particularly for groups visiting Skipton and the Dales.'

In April the Rendezvous beat off competition from other independently owned hotels across the UK to be selected as a finalist in the National Group Travel Awards. The awards, which recognise the best suppliers to the group travel industry, are judged by readers of Group Travel Organiser Magazine and are widely regarded as the most prestigious awards for the group travel sector.
The winner will be announced in London on 15 June by acclaimed travel writer and presenter, Simon Calder.

For more information about Destination Skipton, contact Malcolm Weaving on 01756 700100 or visit www.destinationskipton.com.