Specialist tourism and leisure marketing consultancy Partners Leisure, part of The Partners Group, was honoured at the recent York Tourism 'Oscars' after its work for York Maze won the award for 'Best Marketing Campaign of the Year'.

The largest maize maze in the world, as big as fifteen football pitches, York Maze is the brainchild of Yorkshire farmer Tom Pearcy. This year's design featured Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament to mark the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot by York born Guy Fawkes. With the help of Partners Leisure, York Maze more than doubled its visitors in one year.

"Excuse the pun, but the results have been amazing," was Tom Pearcy's reaction. "We opened four years ago and I thought we were doing quite well, but nothing could have prepared me for the phenomenal growth in our business. Getting the marketing right has catapulted York Maze into a different league, enabling us to invest for next year in better facilities, new attractions and increased marketing."

Sponsored by Leeds Bradford International Airport and Jet2.com, the glittering awards ceremony, attended by over 300 representatives from York's tourism industry, was hosted by BBC Look North presenter Clare Frisby.

The judges had this to say about the York Maze campaign; "The success was due to a well planned, well targeted marketing campaign and lots of incredibly imaginative ideas."

Partners Leisure MD David Leon said, "I am thrilled for our client to have received such a prestigious award. We pride ourselves on delivering inspirational marketing campaigns that drive business success. It is gratifying therefore that the award recognises not just the creative elements of the campaign, but has been judged on solid evidence of business growth."

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