He shoots – he scores!
Former football star Marco Gabbiadini has just landed another winner’s medal, after the guest house he runs with his wife Deborah scooped one of the top awards in the Visit York Tourism Awards last night.
Marco played for York City 78 times in two spells, making his senior debut for the club aged just 17 in 1985. He also played for some lesser clubs, like Sunderland and Derby County, and was capped for England at under-21 level.
Marco retired from his football career in 2004 to run Bishops guest house, pictured below, a beautifully restored Victorian townhouse on Holgate Road in York.
The venue won Guest Accommodation of the Year, one of 13 businesses to be honoured at the tourism awards, held at the National Railway Museum and hosted by BBC presenter Phil Bodmer.
Other winners included Hotel of the Year Middlethorpe Hall, The Golden Fleece, Pavement, which was crowned Pub of the Year, and the Hairy Fig deli and café on Fossgate, named Best Shopping Experience.
Six restaurants battled it out for the people’s choice Taste of York title, which was presented to El Piano restaurant, on Grape Lane – the only award voted for by the public during a two-month promotion to 10,000 Visit York Facebook fans and Twitter followers.
The ‘cream’ of North Yorkshire’s hospitality & tourism industry gathering for the Visit York Awards 2012 twitter.com/philbodmer/sta…
— Phil Bodmer (@philbodmer) April 26, 2012
Ian Reed of Yorkshire Air Museum was named York Ambassador. Chief executive of Visit York Gillian Cruddas said: “Ian has worked tirelessly over the last 20 years to promote York across the globe. He is always brimming with enthusiasm and imagination.
“The French in York event last year would not have happened without his dedication and vision to bring something different to the city.”
Well done too to Shirley Fletcher, of Hilton York, who won the Outstanding Customer Service Award, and Alan Rowley of Complete Yorkshire, the Employee of the Year.
In a photo-finish York Racecourse took the title Visitor Attraction of the Year (50,000 visitors and over) just pipping York Dungeon to the post.
Gillian added: “Despite a challenging economic climate, it is encouraging to see so many businesses and individuals go the extra mile to ensure York continues to go from strength to strength as a world-renowned visitor destination.”
The winners
Guest Accommodation of the Year
Winner: Bishops
Hotel of the Year
Winner: Middlethorpe Hall & Spa
Self Catering/Caravan Park of the Year
Winner: Dovecote Barns
Pub of the Year
Winner: The Golden Fleece
Outstanding Customer Service Award
Winner: Shirley Fletcher, Hilton York
Business Tourism Award
Winner: York Marriott Hotel
Marketing Campaign of the Year
Winner: York Maze
Employee of the Year
Winner: Alan Rowley, Complete Yorkshire
Best Shopping Experience
Winner: The Hairy Fig
Visitor Attraction of the Year (under 50,000 visitors)
Winner: The Ice Factor
Visitor Attraction of the Year (50,000 visitors & over)
Winner: York Racecourse 2011 Season
Highly Commended: York Dungeon
Taste of York – The People’s Choice Award
El Piano
York Ambassador
Ian Reed, Yorkshire Air Museum