New York tourism chief named
YORK'S new tourism organisation, Visit York, has announced the appointment of its chief executive, Gillian Cruddas.
When it is launched in April, Visit York will see York Tourism Bureau, the city council and the York Hospitality Association joining together to form a single tourism organisation for York, working with businesses, Yorkshire Forward and Yorkshire Tourist Board.
It will market York as a must-see destination to the leisure and business visitor, and lead on securing investment to develop the quality of York's offer to visitors.
Gillian has been chief executive of York Tourism Bureau for 12 years and before that spent six years as a tourism officer for Hull. She holds an MBA, the Diploma in Marketing, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Tourism Society.
She is also a former President of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, a former director of York Theatre Royal and is a current trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Society.
Ms Cruddas said: “I'm very excited by the opportunity this new role offers. This position will encompass a much wider remit, bringing market research, investment, training, product development and marketing under one umbrella for the first time in York's history, creating a stronger more integrated approach to tourism. With vision, a dynamic board of directors and strong support from businesses and residents, we have a winning combination.”
John Yeomans, chairman of Visit York said: “Gillian will bring unrivalled assets to this post and has an impressive porfolio of experience and a proven track record in destination marketing. Her enormous tourism knowledge and expertise will help drive York's continued success in the months and years ahead.”
Keith Jones, Dean of York, said: “I am thrilled to hear that Gillian has accepted this role. She is already somebody we know as York Minster plays an important part in attracting visitors to York. We look forward to working closely together with her as York Minster plays a part within the new organisation in the future.”
York won the title European Tourism City of the Year in 2007 and was voted the UK's Best City in the Telegraph Travel Awards. Tourism employs one in 10 of the local workforce (9,970 people) tourism spending by visitors has risen by more than 50% in the last 12 years, to £332.9m in 2006 and visitor numbers were at a record 4.2 million. Visit York aims to increase tourism spend by 5% per annum in line with Yorkshire Forward's growth targets.
