Harrogate Borough Council

 

Squadron Leader Frank Tierney was greeted with applause and jubilation when he entered Harrogate's Tourist Information Centre last week becoming the 750,000th visitor to the Centre since it relocated in 2000. From left to right: Helen Suckling, Visitor Service Manager at TIC; Frank Tierney; Gilly Bendtson, Visitor Team Manager at TIC. 

 

The staff at TIC presented local resident Mr Tierney with a gift bag full of treats including Harrogate Toffee and complimentary tickets to various local attractions including Ripley Castle and HIC. They were visiting the TIC to gather information about local accommodation for their extended family, who are all coming to Harrogate later this year for a big family party.

 

Harrogate's Tourist Information Centre is operated by Harrogate International Centre. There are four TIC's across the district with further Centre's in Ripon, Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough. Harrogate is one of the busiest TIC's in North Yorkshire and experience increased footfall during major local events such as the Harrogate Flower Shows, the Great Yorkshire Show, and increasingly there is demand for information and bookings for the Scarborough Spa Express, which runs from Leeds to Scarborough via Harrogate during the summer months. 

 

In 2007 the TIC handled over 162,000 enquiries, made over 3,000 bed bookings and answered just under 30,000 telephone calls. With a staff team of 6 the TIC deals with enquiries from across the country from people intending to visit the area. From the local perspective, the most popular destination enquiries are for the Lake District, Scotland and Northumberland. The tourism website, www.enjoyharrogate.com also logged over 200,000 visits for the year to 31 March 2008. 

 

Conference and exhibition delegates also use Harrogate TIC for accommodation bookings. The bookings team headed by Catherine Geraghty is in regular daily contact with accommodation providers and able to offer business visitors the most suitable accommodation according to individual requests and requirements. 

 

Also available at the TIC is a range of gifts from postcards, branded mugs, Harrogate toffee and tea towels to Royal Hall memorabilia.

 

Harrogate Tourist Information Centre is open 9am - 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am - 1pm on Sunday.  The three branch offices are open 10am - 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 10am - 1pm on Sunday.