Welcome to Yorkshire announces tourism recovery task group chair

As the country emerges from a second lockdown and tier systems, relating to COVID-19 restrictions, are put into place across the county, Welcome to Yorkshire is pleased to announce Calderdale’s CEO at The Piece Hall Trust Nicky Chance-Thompson DL, as the chair of their Tourism Recovery Task Group.

The county’s destination marketing organisation, since the coronavirus crisis hit, has been leading and collaboratively working with the Yorkshire tourism sector, including local authorities, national parks, LEPs and business representatives, on a robust recovery plan, to support and promote businesses and attractions, to enable them to reopen, recover and rebuild, following Government guidelines.

Welcome to Yorkshire’s Chief Executive James Mason said: “The resurgence of Yorkshire tourism is of the utmost importance to the county. Times are tricky for all businesses, as a result of the current coronavirus situation, and pre-pandemic tourism was worth £9bn to the Yorkshire economy and employed almost 225,000 people. The team at Welcome to Yorkshire are determined and committed, to continue doing all that’s possible to work closely with the whole county and its tourism representatives, during this recovery period to support and guide. We are therefore thrilled to announce acclaimed businesswoman Nicky Chance-Thompson as Welcome to Yorkshire’s Tourism Recovery Task Group chair, knowing her strong skills and excellent expertise in heritage, retail, hospitality and entertainment will be a huge asset, to help successfully steer the county’s businesses and organisations through its reopening, recovery and rebuilding stages over the coming months and beyond.”

Nicky Chance-Thompson DL, CEO at The Piece Hall Trust and chair of the Tourism Recovery Task Group, said: “It’s vital that we plan carefully for the tourism sector’s recovery from this incredibly difficult situation, taking into account our understanding of the real extent of need reaching across the whole of the sector and supply chain.

"We will seek to identify exactly what will be required to help the sector to survive into next year and ensure that we can recover. All of the cultural, heritage, hospitality, retail and tourism sectors have a vital role to play nationally, regionally and locally at this time and for future recovery in the emotional and economic sense.

“Leading the agenda for our regional tourism recovery, our Task Group role is to gather and analyse data and feedback any sector insights into Government planning and strategy, whilst continuing to provide advice and support at this challenging time.

“As chair of the Tourism Recovery Task Group, I would like to invite others from across the Yorkshire region and retail sector to come forward and help us in our dedicated efforts to recover this critical sector that contributes so much to the lives of people and economy of this country. As the fourth largest employment sector in the UK, it’s important that we preserve it.”

Already part of the Welcome to Yorkshire Board, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of the multi-award-winning The Piece Hall in Halifax, Nicky Chance-Thompson DL has led the historic venue’s team to proudly present an internationally renowned, spectacular business and events venue across the globe. Since it re-opened in August 2017, The Piece Hall has attracted over 5m visitors and has featured on shows such as the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and Children in Need. As an impressive independent retail, food and culture destination, The Piece Hall has put on a series of high-profile events spanning art, visual spectacles, film and music, and hosted world-class bands, including Elbow, plus there’s a star-studded roll call lined up for 2021, including Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Kaiser Chiefs, Doves, The Cribs, Richard Hawley, Shed Seven, Manic Street Preachers and The Specials.

The Welcome to Yorkshire Tourism Recovery Task Group will be responsible for providing leadership and overall coordination relating to the delivery of the recovery plan. This will include development, monitoring and ensuring evaluation of all activity.

Welcome to Yorkshire will continue to focus and report on the progression of the county’s tourism recovery plan and the work of the Tourism Recovery Task Group.