After a record number of entries and hours of painstaking deliberation, Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) has announced the shortlist for the fifth annual Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards (REYTAs).

Hull Trinity Festival, funded by HullBID, has been shortlisted in the Remarkable Tourism Experience/Event category. The three day music event took place in Hull's Old Town in September last year, featuring over 100 live music performances in the surrounding bars and - for the first time - a Main Stage in the picturesque Trinity Square. Also featured are several city centre BID Member businesses: Mercure Royal Hotel, Holiday Inn Hull Marina, Two Rivers Restaurant at the Deep, Hull City Council Events, 1884 Dock Street Kitchen, Lion & Key, & The Minerva.

The hotly anticipated shortlist features some of Hull and East Yorkshire’s finest attractions, restaurants, cafes, pubs, hotels, accommodation providers and tourism experiences. The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony at the Spa, Bridlington, on March 13th, 2014. The REYTAs honour the brightest and best in this region's tourism industry and celebrate the enormous achievements of businesses across Hull and East Yorkshire. Tourism is a vital part of this area's economy, contributing over £615million annually. The REYTAs help to support the industry by raising awareness of the superb quality we have to offer visitors.

Andy Gray, tourism manager of Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, said: “The response to the REYTAs this year has been nothing short of amazing. Entries are up 30 per cent year on year, but it’s not just that – the quality of the entries has blown us away.

“The awards are at a whole different level now and it’s not an exaggeration to say that all of the 71 shortlisted businesses would be worthy of winning a REYTA.

“When you look at the line-up it shows just what a remarkable offer we have in Hull and the East Riding. Those shortlisted are not just from one of two places but from right across the county and shows the depth and breadth of quality. The tourism experience we offer has never been better.

“Congratulations and good luck to everyone who has made the shortlist. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved in Hull and East Yorkshire’s tourism industry to join us at the Spa in Bridlington on March 13 to celebrate the fabulous offering in the region.”

The REYTAs have been generously supported by some of Hull and East Yorkshire’s leading organisations, who have committed to be major sponsors of the awards, including: The Deep, Classlane Media, St Stephen’s, Wykeland, Strawberry, Mail News & Media, Allied Advertising Agency, Catalink, Webmart and EYMS Group.

REMARKABLE EAST YORKSHIRE TOURISM AWARDS FINALISTS 2013

Remarkable Hotel Accommodation: Beverley Tickton Grange Hallmark Hotel, North Ferriby Mercure Royal Hotel, Hull De Vere Village Urban Resort, Priory Park, Hull. Holiday Inn, Hull Marina.

Remarkable Bed & Breakfast: Lincoln House, Bridlington Highfield Farm, Southburn, Driffield Village Farm, Skipsea The St Quintin Arms, Harpham, near Driffield. Newbegin House, Beverley Wolds Village, Bainton Remarkable Self Catering Provider: Carlton Apartments, The Crescent, Bridlington Wolds Edge Holiday Lodges and Shepherd Hut, Garrowby. Field House Farm Cottages, Sewerby Broadgate Farm Cottages, Walkington High Barn Cottages, Bempton Raywell Hall Country Lodge Park, Riplingham Road, Raywell Nordham Cottages, Nordham, Near North Cave.

Ramarkable Fayre: Wold Top Brewery, Hunmanby Grange, Wold Newton Yorkshire Wolds Cookery School, Southburn, Driffield Mr Moo’s Real Dairy Ice Cream, Skipsea Vanessa’s Delicatessen & Café, Beverley Drewton’s Farm Shop, South Cave Staal Smokehouse Ltd., Riston Grange, Long Riston Side Oven Bakery, Foston on the Wolds, near Driffield

Remarkable Cuppa: Vanilla Ice-Cream Parlour, The Esplanade, Bridlington T C Patisserie, Beverley Drewton’s Farm Shop, South Cave Wolds Village, Bainton Vanessa’s Delicatessen and Café, Beverley Potters Cafe and Bistro, Chanterlands Avenue, Hull Millers Tea Room and Farm Shop, Raywell Country Lodge Park, Raywell.

Remarkable Restaurant of the Year: The Star @ Sancton, Sancton Ogino, Butcher Row, Beverley Tapasya, Hull Two Rivers Restaurant at the Deep, Hull 1884 Dock Street Kitchen, Hull Hide at Beverley Tickton Grange.

Remarkable Pub: The Bluebell, Cottingham Lion and Key, Scale Lane, Hull Goodmanham Arms, Goodmanham, near Market Weighton Pave, Princes Avenue, Hull Triton Inn, Brantingham The Minerva, Hull Marina.

Remarkable Business Tourism: Beverley Tickton Grange Mercure Royal Hotel, Ferensway, Hull De Vere Village Urban Resort, Priory Park, Hull Hallmark Hotel, North Ferriby KC Stadium, Hull The Spa, Bridlington Remarkable Visitor Attraction: Living Seas Centre, Flamborough Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail Burnby Hall Gardens and Museum, Pocklington Robert Fuller Gallery, Thixendale Beverley Racecourse RSPB Bempton Cliffs, Bempton Gallery 49, Bridlington.

Remarkable Tourism Experience/Event: Hull Trinity Festival, Beverley Folk Festival, Beverley Festival of Christmas, Beverley Food Festival, Hull Freedom Festival, Hull Veterans Weekend, Driffield Show.

Remarkable Sustainable Award: High Barn Cottages, Bempton Broadgate Farm Cottages, Walkington Side Oven Bakery, Foston on the Wolds, near Driffield Beverley Food Festival Christmas Festival of Food & Drink, Beverley Drewton’s Farm Shop, South Cave.

Pictured: Hull Trinity Festival 2013 (funded by HullBID), a finalist in the Remarkable Tourism Experience/Event (photo by Ian Rook).