Welcome to Yorkshire (WTY) was the official tourism agency for the traditional county of Yorkshire, the largest county in the United Kingdom, promoting Yorkshire tourism both nationally and internationally, until 2022. It was formerly known as the Yorkshire Tourist Board until 2009, but underwent a rebranding,[1] and a move to offices in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The stated aim of the organisation was: 'to grow the county's visitor economy'.[2] The Chief Executive from 2008 until his resignation in March 2019 was Sir Gary Verity. The next Chief Executive, James Mason, was appointed in 2019 having previously worked as chief operating officer of Bradford City Football Club and a journalist for the BBC.[3]
James Mason left Welcome to Yorkshire in 2021 following an investigation,[4] and on 1 March 2022, the business entered administration,[5][6] before having its assets – including the Welcome to Yorkshire name and trademarks, sold to be run by another organisation in future.[7] The business was carrying significant debts at the time of its demise, largely to a local pension fund.[8]
Activities edit
Aside from the more traditional forms of tourism marketing usually associated with tourist boards, Welcome to Yorkshire has been involved in cultural partnerships such as the Yorkshire entries to the Chelsea Flower Show,[9] The Railway Children tour,[10] the Hockney tour[11] and the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle.[12] They are also an official partner of Yorkshire County Cricket Club,[13] sponsoring the team's Twenty20 tour of South Africa in 2012.[14]
Welcome to Yorkshire ran the campaign to host the 2014 Grand Depart of the Tour de France in the county.[15] On 14 December 2012 Yorkshire was confirmed as the starting place for the race.[16]
Expenses scandal edit
In 2019, it was found that an expenses scandal following the resignation of chief executive Sir Gary Verity led to further costs for the organisation of nearly £500,000[17] with forensic accounting company BDO unable to determine if £900,000 of expenses were justified due to a lack of clear policies for expenses.[18] Verity repaid over £40,000[19] and a subsequent police investigation concluded with no action being taken.[20]
Administration and liquidation edit
After the COVID-19 pandemic, and following the expenses scandal, the Welcome to Yorkshire business endured a period of financial difficulty, before entering administration on 1 March 2022.[21][22] On 11 April 2022,[23] a deal was concluded to sell the business name, websites, domains and some rights to the Tour de Yorkshire to a business called Silicon Dales Ltd who would continue to run the online operations, and committed publicly to trying to save the Tour de Yorkshire[24] cycling race in future years.
The Welcome to Yorkshire Ltd business was therefore liquidated by administrators, Armstrong Watson. Public records showed that, at the time of its demise, Welcome to Yorkshire Ltd owed a North Yorkshire pension fund over £1.4 million,[25] raising questions from the local media – particularly the Yorkshire Post – over whether the administration should have happened much earlier.[26]
References edit
- ^ Cook, Tim. "Welcome to Yorkshire business tourism drive". Harrogate News. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ White Rose Awards. "Yorkshire Awards its Tourism Stars – 4th October 2010". White Rose Awards 2010. White Rose Awards. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ Ballinger, Alex (2 December 2019). "New Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive vows to 'regain trust' after recent controversies". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
- ^ Burn, Chris (4 December 2021). "Councils refuse to reveal details of Welcome to Yorkshire investigation into ex-chief executive James Mason". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ Burn, Chris. "Welcome to Yorkshire goes into administration as council leaders end public funding". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to Yorkshire goes into administration". BBC News. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ "Welcome Back to Yorkshire!". Welcome back to Yorkshire.com. Yorkshire.com (International) Ltd. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ Burn, Chris (23 April 2022). "Revealed: Welcome to Yorkshire owes £2m debt to 67 creditors – including public sector pension fund". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ RHS Chelsea Flower Show. "The Brontës' Yorkshire Garden". RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012. RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ Hutchinson, Charles. "The Railway Children, Welcome To Yorkshire Theatre, London until September 5". The York Press. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ "Hockney art trail across Yorkshire". BBC News Online. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ Sykes, Alan (14 January 2013). "Yorkshire seeks to become sculpture capital of Europe". The Guardian. London: Guardian Online. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
- ^ YCCC. "Welcome to Yorkshire". Official partners. YCCC. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ YCCC. "CLt20: Welcome to Yorkshire sponsor CLt20 campaign". YCCC News. YCCC. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ "Tour de France: 'Thousands back' Yorkshire's 2016 bid". BBC News Online. 22 July 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ^ Fotheringham, William (14 December 2012). "Yorkshire to host the start of 2014 Tour de France". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "Gary Verity expenses scandal fallout costs Welcome to Yorkshire almost £500,000". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Investigators can't say whether almost £1m of Welcome to Yorkshire expense claims were 'reasonable'". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Police urged to investigate tourism boss". BBC News. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Former tourism boss will not face police action". BBC News. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ Burn, Chris. "Welcome to Yorkshire goes into administration as council leaders end public funding". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ "Welcome to Yorkshire goes into administration". BBC News. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ "Welcome Back to Yorkshire!". Welcome back to Yorkshire.com. Yorkshire.com (International) Ltd. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ Scott, Linda. "An Update on Tour de Yorkshire & a Thank You for your Support". Welcome Back to Yorkshire.com. Yorkshire.com (International) Ltd. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ Burn, Chris (23 April 2022). "Revealed: Welcome to Yorkshire owes £2m debt to 67 creditors – including public sector pension fund". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
- ^ Burn, Chris (27 April 2022). "Welcome to Yorkshire began considering administration 'exit strategy' months ago". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 1 May 2022.