Destination Harrogate could face financial cuts or be swallowed up by a county-wide body, councillors have been told.
The Harrogate district’s destination management organisation was launched by Harrogate Borough Council last year.
It has four streams aimed at promoting tourism, hosting events, bringing in investment and supporting culture and was launched amid concerns the authority had a fragmented approach to tourism and marketing.
Its campaigns have focused on promoting the district as a health and wellbeing destination to capitalise on Harrogate’s spa town heritage.
But with the council ceasing to exist from April 1, to be replaced by the new unitary authority North Yorkshire Council, Liberal Democrat councillor for Hookstone, Pat Marsh, asked senior figures at the authority what will happen to the organisation.
At a meeting this week, Cllr Marsh said:
“I’m looking at other authorities that are joining together and I can’t see a destination management organisation other than our own.”
Paula Lorimer, Harrogate Convention Centre’s director, said that following an independent review commissioned by the government into destination management organisations, it would likely mean that only destination management organisations from cities or large regions will be able to receive funding from central government, which would exclude Destination Harrogate.
Read more:
- Harrogate council spends £2.2m on new tourism body in first year
- Harrogate council agreed £222,000 in exit packages due to tourism restructure
Ms Lorimer suggested Harrogate would have to amalgamate into a wider, yet-to-be created North Yorkshire destination management organisation to qualify for the funding.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed last month that Harrogate Borough Council spent £2,224,000 on Destination Harrogate in its first year operating — almost a million pounds more than budgeted.
Borough council chief executive Wallace Sampson told councillors that the new authority could look to “identify savings” with Destination Harrogate after it is handed control of the organisation.
He added:
“[Destination Harrogate] is a discretionary service and against the background of a challenging financial environment for the new council, every discretionary service will be subject to financial scrutiny.”
Mr Sampson warned of the possible pitfalls of Destination Harrogate being merged into a county-wide tourism body, which he suggested could dilute the focus on individual places.
He said:
Cut-price deals for diners during Harrogate district’s first Restaurant Week“From a Harrogate point of view we have Destination Harrogate that has a really strong focus on place branding and marketing and that helps to attract visitors.
“The key question will be — can you retain the focus on individual places in North Yorkshire? It’s something the new council will have to grapple with.”
Several restaurants and bars will be offering cut-price deals next month as part of the Harrogate district’s first Restaurant Week.
The offers include three courses for £20 at Harrogate’s West Park Hotel and lunch and a drink for £10 at The Inn at Cheltenham Parade in Harrogate. Other venues taking part include Manahatta and Cosy Club in Harrogate and The Inn South Stainley, which is offering two cocktails for £10.
Restaurant Week, organised by tourism organisation Destination Harrogate, will take place from February 6 to 10.
Manahatta is among those taking part. Photo credit: Think Harrogate
Businesses that sign up will offer set-price menus to customers who quote the offer. It is hoped the initiative will enable them to attract new customers and get a publicity boost.
John McGivern, destination events manager for Destination Harrogate, which is part of Harrogate Borough Council, urged people to “book in and tuck in”, adding:
“Excellent food and drink is a firm offer within the Harrogate district’s visitor experience, and through focusing on our tourism strengths, we’re showcasing our best stories to attract more visitors and to set us apart from our competitors.
“The initiative also supports our commitment to sustainable tourism, encouraging visits during times of the year when, traditionally, visitor numbers have been lower. Spreading visitor footfall across the year lowers impact to the environment, and offers new opportunities to our local businesses, along with great deals for our visitors and residents alike.”
A list of restaurants taking part is available here.
Read more:
- New Mediterranean restaurant opens in Harrogate
- Plan to convert part of Harrogate’s Old Swan hotel into 17 flats
Harrogate ice rink to return again this Christmas
The company behind Harrogate’s Christmas ice rink has said it was “very happy” with how it went and plans to return for at least the next two years.
Events by Cynosure transformed Crescent Gardens into a festive treat, installing the ice rink and a host of fairground attractions, including a carousel.
The ice rink, which operated for a month, was one of the highlights of Harrogate’s Christmas offering, which also included a ferris wheel, a market and the Candy Cane Express free road train.
Harrogate Borough Council tourism organisation Destination Harrogate organised the activities in partnership with Events by Cynosure, Harrogate Business Improvement District and events company Market Place Europe as part of a bid to attract more Christmas visitors.
John Lowery, director of Events by Cynosure, told the Stray Ferret it had a three-year deal to operate the ice rink in Harrogate.
Mr Lowery said the ice rink attracted about 15,000 bookings and although he was pleased overall there was room for improvement.
He said the main improvement would be to extend the length of the 10-day market, which ended before mid-December:
“When the market ended it did go quieter. A lot of traders said the same thing. I’d like to see the market there right up until Christmas.
Read more:
- Harrogate’s Christmas ice rink opens for bookings
- Harrogate council spends £2.2m on new tourism body in first year
Mr Lowery also said he wanted the Crescent Gardens site to include a Santa’s grotto and better bar facilities.
He said:
Harrogate council spends £2.2m on new tourism body in first year“Our intention is to make Harrogate a destination for people to go at Christmas so they spend money in town and restaurants.
“We’ve learned more about the site and the flow of people and how Harrogate works. Between Christmas and the new year was a lot quieter than I expected.”
Harrogate Borough Council spent £2,224,000 on Destination Harrogate in its first year operating — almost a million pounds more than budgeted, figures reveal.
The council’s draft statement of accounts, which will be discussed at a meeting this evening, lists income and expenditure for the year ending March 31, 2022.
Destination Harrogate was officially launched as the council’s destination management organisation last year.
It has four streams aimed at promoting tourism, hosting events, bringing in investment and supporting culture and was launched amid concerns the authority had a “fragmented” approach to tourism and marketing.
Its campaigns have focused on promoting the district as a health and wellbeing destination to capitalise on Harrogate’s spa town heritage.
Campaigns in 2021 included ‘Destination Christmas’, which saw a giant helter skelter installed in the town. In summer 2022, the organisation helped organise a four-day celebration on the Stray for the Queen’s platinum jubilee.
Destination Harrogate’s website also provides details about how businesses can invest in the district, including at the new Harrogate West Business Park on Burley Bank Road.
Read more:
- Harrogate College backs PM’s call for compulsory maths until 18
- Harrogate council agreed £222,000 in exit packages due to tourism restructure
The report found the organisation generated £342,000 in income during 2021/22 and there was an overall net spend of £1,942,000.
However, it says the authority spent an additional £946,000 more than budgeted.
As reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service last week, the council paid out £220,000 in exit packages last year with the majority due to the Destination Harrogate restructure that merged marketing teams at Visit Harrogate and Harrogate Convention Centre.
A council spokesperson said:
Harrogate council agreed £222,000 in exit packages due to tourism restructure“Aside from investment to premises, funded through reserves, much of the expenditure during the destination management organisation’s early stages was in staffing the new service to ensure the organisation was fit for purpose and suitably flexible to respond to changing customer expectations/market developments and seasonal demand.
“While the 2021 restructure enabled the right mix of skills and experience to be in place to deliver the destination management organisation’s vision and strategy, the new service was no greater in size, in terms of employees, staffing costs or departmental budget than the previous service that it replaced.
“Prior to March 31 2022 the destination management organisation launched a new events bureau, Events Harrogate, and implemented successful marketing activity to increase awareness of the Harrogate district as a visitor destination and boost subsequent visitor expenditure – for example, the award-winning Destination Christmas campaign in 2021.
“Industry data shows that visitors to the Harrogate district were staying longer and spending more money with local businesses in 2021 than they did prior to the pandemic.
“Throughout 2022, Destination Harrogate delivered a wealth of successful events to bring more visitors into the Harrogate district, alongside successful marketing campaigns promoting the district as a first choice health and wellbeing destination, destination for garden-themed holidays and Christmas destination.
“In addition to visitor-facing marketing campaigns, the destination management organisation has also, through Events Harrogate, been working to bring more events into the district, while Invest Harrogate continues to attract inward investment in the district to encourage long-term growth in the economy. We can look forward to further successful outcomes for Destination Harrogate as we move forward into 2023 and beyond.”
Harrogate Borough Council agreed exit packages worth £222,000 last year with the bulk of the payouts given to former marketing staff in its culture and tourism departments.
In the summer of 2021, the council agreed to create a new destination management organisation for the district called Destination Harrogate after a review found the authority had a “fragmented” approach to tourism and marketing.
Destination Harrogate was set up to raise the profile of the Harrogate district and help attract tourists and investment but the restructure meant its marketing teams from Visit Harrogate and Harrogate Convention Centre were merged into the one organisation, resulting in job losses.
The council’s draft statement of accounts, which lists income and expenditure during 2021/22, includes details of 14 exit packages with the majority of payments linked to the restructure.
It says 12 payments worth up to £20,000 were agreed as well as one payment worth between £20,001 and £40,000 and another worth between £80,001 and £100,000.
The number of exit packages last year was unusually high for the authority. In 2020/21 it only agreed one worth £15,000.
Read more:
- Harrogate College backs PM’s call for compulsory maths until 18
- Man jailed for two-month fraud spree at Harrogate and York hotels
In 2022, Destination Harrogate unveiled a three-year plan to position the Harrogate district as a “first choice destination for tourism, large-scale events and investment”.
Alongside its partner Market Place Europe Ltd, it recently organised Christmas festivities in Harrogate, which included a Ferris wheel, ice rink and Christmas market.
A council spokesperson said:
Get your skates on! Harrogate Christmas festivities get underway“In summer 2021, Harrogate Borough Council agreed a restructure of the culture, tourism (including Visit Harrogate) and Harrogate Convention Centre marketing teams in order to establish a new destination management organisation for the Harrogate district.
“The destination management organisation’s purpose was to raise the profile of the Harrogate district as an exceptional place to visit, meet and invest.
“The destination management organisation required a staffing structure that was fit for purpose and suitably flexible to respond to changing customer expectations/market developments and seasonal demand. The restructure supported this and enabled the right mix of skills and experience to be in place to deliver the DMO’s vision and strategy.”
The first skaters took to the ice and the giant Ferris wheel wheel began turning as Harrogate’s Christmas festivities got underway.
Fog lifted at noon just in time for people to get a great view of the festivities, including the 50 market stalls, ice rink and more from the top of the 32-metre Ferris wheel.
The Christmas Fayre is running with the Candy Cane Express road train from today until December 11 but many of the rides including the ice rink, ferris wheel and carousel will stay in the town centre until January 3.
Read our comprehensive guide to Harrogate’s Christmas fun here. Check out our gallery from this morning for a taste of the fun:
The festive season officially gets underway in Harrogate tomorrow with the return of ‘Destination Christmas’.
The town will be buzzing with the opening of the ice rink, 32-metre Ferris wheel, the carousel and 50 market stalls, plus more.
With so much going on we’ve put together a brief guide to the attractions, showing where you can see them and how much they cost.
Christmas Fayre
When: December 2 -11, Monday – Saturday: 10am – 7pm, Sunday: 10.30am – 4.30pm
Where: The pedestrianised areas of Cambridge Street and Market Place in Harrogate town centre
Destination Harrogate is bringing back Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which launched in 2021. It will be bigger this year with about 50 stalls to browse for Christmas gifts, decorations and seasonal foodie treats.
The traditional Christmas market, delivered by Market Place Europe, will offer an ‘eclectic mix of enticing stalls’ to complement Harrogate’s independent retailers, restaurants, bars and boutique stores.
Market Place Europe and Harrogate Borough Council, which jointly operate the Christmas Fayre, will also once again provide a stall for charities.
Little Bird artisan market
When: December 3 and 4 and December 10 and 11, Saturday 10am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm
Where: Valley Gardens, Harrogate
The festive artisan market will feature 70 local and regional traders and producers, who will sell a variety of arts and crafts, clothing, homeware, jewellery, as well as food and drink.
Candy Cane Express road train
When: December 2-11
Where: This year’s route has yet to be confirmed, but last year it stopped at James Street, St Mary’s Walk and Crescent Road. It also passed Montpellier Hill, Cheltenham Parade, Station Parade and Victoria Avenue.
Cost: Free
The Christmas road train experience is also back for 2022, to transport festive revellers around Harrogate town centre while the market is on, with the Candy Cane Express co-funded by Harrogate BID.
Giant Ferris Wheel
When: December 2 – January 3
Where: Harrogate town centre, next to the war memorial
Cost: £7 for adults, £5 for children
The 32-metre illuminated observation wheel will offer views spectacular views of the surrounding area.
Harrogate outdoor ice skating rink
When: December 2 – January 3, various times throughout the day
Where: Crescent Gardens, Harrogate
Cost: Tickets cost £14 for adults and £13 for children aged five to 16. Family tickets costing £37.50, £50 and £62.50 are available. Sessions are 60 minutes. There are also ‘relaxed sessions’ and parent and toddler sessions.
All new for 2022, the outdoor ice skating rink features an après ski bar offering seasonal treats and refreshments.
The bookings website says:
“Harrogate ice rink is magical for all ages, great for families, date nights, catch ups with pals, Christmas parties with a twist, skaters, non-skaters, those who want to learn to skate at our skate school or just enjoy one of the most fascinating spectator sports with a drink and bite to eat.”
Traditional carousel and children’s fairground rides
When: December 2 – January 3, various times throughout the day
Where: Crescent Gardens, Harrogate
Cost: £3 per person. Bungee trampolines are £5 per go.
Crescent Gardens in Harrogate will take on a fairground feel again this year, featuring a traditional carousel and a collection of small rides for tiny tots.
The rides are provided by Events By Cynosure and supported by Harrogate Borough Council’s Parks and Environmental Services team.
Read more:
- Ferris wheel goes up as Harrogate Christmas countdown begins
- First signs of Christmas attractions appear in Harrogate
What the organisers say:
John McGivern, destination events manager for Destination Harrogate, which is part of Harrogate Borough Council, said:
“We’re thrilled to be bringing back Destination Christmas and to be offering an even bigger and better experience for 2022. We’re building on the success of last year and through working in collaboration with our partners, including Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate BID, we can look forward to delivering something really special this Christmas.
“Destination Christmas not only offers our residents the opportunity to enjoy an amazing Christmas experience, particularly following the challenges of the past two years, it also encourages visitors to the Harrogate district from further afield, bolstering local trade and boosting our tourism industry at a crucial time in the business calendar.”
Councillor Richard Cooper, leader of Harrogate Borough Council, said:
“Once again, Christmas will be coming to Harrogate town centre and I for one can’t wait. Last year’s offer was a great success but I know this year’s will be even bigger and better.
“Town centres are recovering well from the covid pandemic and by working with our partners and stakeholders we can once again deliver a safe, vibrant and attractive offer that drives visitors to our district’s shops, restaurants, visitor attractions, hotels and B&Bs this festive season, and showcase the Harrogate district as the perfect Christmas destination.
“The Christmas attractions also offer a fantastic way for families and friends to spend quality time together at this special time of year and to enjoy being active outdoors. And the all-new ice skating rink not only offers an exciting opportunity for people of all ages to socialise but also encourages physical activity, in a magical environment.”
Nick Rhodes, chief executive of Market Place Europe, said:
Ferris wheel goes up as Harrogate Christmas countdown begins“Harrogate is a beautiful and unique destination and the perfect place to enjoy our fantastic Christmas market. We’re really excited to be returning this year with an even bigger Harrogate Christmas Fayre, and to be bringing an exciting variety of traders into the town centre to offer a wonderful experience that all the family can enjoy.”
A Ferris wheel has started to be installed in Harrogate as the countdown to the town’s Christmas activities begins.
The 32-metre wheel, which is being assembled alongside the war memorial, will be one of the highlights of Harrogate’s Christmas offering.
Other highlights include an ice rink in Crescent Gardens, a Christmas market featuring about 50 stalls, the Candy Cane Express road train and a carousel.
The wheel, also known as an observation wheel, previously stood in York.
Harrogate’s seasonal festivities are due to get underway on Friday. The market will operate until December 11 but the other activities will continue into the New Year.
Harrogate Borough Council is organising the festivities with a range of partners.
John McGivern, destination events manager at the council’s tourism body Destination Harrogate, told Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce this month the ambition was to “position Harrogate district as a first choice Christmas destination” and to attract high spending visitors on day trips and overnight breaks.
The view from Bettys this morning.
Read more:
- York Ferris wheel coming to Harrogate for Christmas
- Judges cast their votes on Ripon’s Christmas windows
First signs of Christmas attractions appear in Harrogate
Work began today to put up the ice rink which will be one of the main features of Harrogate’s Christmas attractions this year.
Crews from Events by Cynosure were on Crescent Gardens this morning setting up the rink, which will open on Friday, December 2 and has been organised by Harrogate BID and Harrogate Borough Council‘s Destination Harrogate marketing team.
The rink will run until Tuesday, January 3, opening every day except Christmas Day, and will be accompanied by an après-ski bar.
It is part of a scheme of attractions around the town which will also see a carousel, a ferris wheel and the Candy Cane Express road train return after a successful first appearance last year. They will all run until January 8.
Harrogate Christmas Fayre, running from Friday, December 2 to Sunday, December 11, will have 50 stalls put up around the town centre featuring a range of traders, including local charities. Installation will begin on Monday, November 28 and the fayre will be open from 10am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays.
Meanwhile, the Christmas lights have been switched on across the town centre, with just over five weeks to go until Christmas Day.
For full information on the ice rink click here.
Read more:
- Harrogate’s Christmas ice rink opens for bookings
- York Ferris wheel coming to Harrogate for Christmas
York Ferris wheel coming to Harrogate for Christmas
A Ferris wheel previously situated in York is to be moved to the centre of Harrogate as part of the town’s Christmas activities, it was revealed last night.
The wheel, which has 24 gondolas, including one VIP and one for people with disabilities, was previously at St Sampson’s Square in York.
John McGivern, destination events manager at tourism body Destination Harrogate, told businesses the 32-metre high wheel was likely to be situated next to the war memorial.
Mr McGivern said Destination Harrogate, which is part of Harrogate Borough Council, was in discussions with the Royal British Legion over the location. The decision to situate a helter-skelter alongside the memorial upset some veterans at Christmas last year.
The wheel, an ice rink, a Christmas fayre, the Candy Cane Express road train and a carousel are among the highlights of Harrogate’s festive offering.
John McGivern at last night’s meeting.
Speaking at Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce‘s monthly meeting last night, Mr McGivern said the ambition was to “position Harrogate district as a first choice Christmas destination” and to attract high spending visitors on day trips and overnight breaks.
He said Destination Harrogate planned to distribute 20,000 printed guides with a map as part of its marketing campaign, which also includes media advertising, press and influencer visits and a dedicated Christmas webpage.
The installation of the ice rink at Crescent Gardens is due to start on Friday. The rink will open on December 2 and close on January 3 — five days before the other attractions.
Harrogate during Christmas last year.
The carousel will return.
Harrogate Christmas Fayre, which will have 50 stalls, will start to be installed on November 28 and be open from December 2 to 11.
It will be open from 10am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays.
Market Place Europe and Harrogate Borough Council, which jointly operate the Christmas fayre, will once again provide a stall for charities.
Artizan International, Carers Resource, Dementia Forward, Girlguiding North Yorkshire West, Harlow Hill Men’s Shed, Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) Community Charity, Harrogate Easier Living Project (HELP), Harrogate Skills 4 Living Centre, Harrogate Town AFC Community Foundation, Samaritans of Harrogate and District, and Ripon Walled Garden are all set to use the stall to either sell products they produce or use it to provide more information to visitors.
Read more:
- Guide to Christmas markets in the Harrogate district
- Bettys unveils Christmas cracker window display in Harrogate