subject: The Most Popular Times Of The Calendar Year For Whitby Hotels [print this page] The local hotels are making the most of the beautiful spring weather as the influx of visitors head towards the town. For too long over the wintertime the occupancy rates have been considerably less than the autumn bonanza with last year's Indian summer.
With the reduction of the numbers of visitors, lots of the proprietors of the hotel establishments will have taken the chance to revitalise their public rooms and bedrooms. Continuing occupancy all year round makes it hard for the premises to be redecorated and upgraded. It is vital, nonetheless, to maintain the very good standards of decor and furniture throughout. There are a huge amount of hotels in and around the region and, therefore, competition is at an all time high.
The area under debate is that of the County of North Yorkshire particularly the attractive town of Whitby UK. The town is situated on the coastline set in a natural harbour. This unique situation has ensured that Whitby is synonymous with shipping and seafaring traditions. From early beginnings as a Roman fort and in later centuries as the location of the Abbey in 657 AD, Whitby has gotten a varied and interesting past.
Initiated by the Romans, ransacked by the Vikings and bombed by the Germans, the town has received, at times, an unsettling past but alongside that there has been moments of notoriety. One of its well-known sons is Captain James Cook, the explorer, navigator and adventurer. Apprenticed in the area as a boy in the shipbuilding yards, he acquired his skills in the Navy before venturing overseas. Famous for his observation of the transit of Venus is 1769, he further went on to map the coastline of New Zealand before discovering Australia. A magnificent statue of Captain James Cook is positioned on top of the Khyber Pass on the West Cliff Area of the town.
Another association with Whitby is, of course, that of Count Dracula. The author, Bram Stoker, stayed in Whitby many times. Fascinated with the Abbey and the one hundred and ninety nine steps leading up to St. Mary's Church graveyard, he drew his inspiration for the horror novel 'Count Dracula'. Ending up on shore in the form of a large dog shipwrecked from the ship 'Demeter', Dracula descended on the town to cause havoc.The association with Dracula has been critical in the development of the Gothic Weekends which draw massive crowds and occur every six months in spring and autumn. These weekends see the town transformed into a Gothic scenario. The visitors arrive in outfits reminiscent of the Victorian Times, crinolined ladies and men in morning suits or top hat and tails. Increasingly, over the years, there has been the introduction of a music scene, bizarre bazaars and 'black market' markets. An almost carnival atmosphere pervades the town with a photo opportunity at almost every turn.
The Gothic weekends are a welcome boost to the town's overall economy and in particular, theWhitby Hotels. The influx of the Gothic community will make sure that the overnight accommodation is fully booked far ahead of time. Additionally, the hotels are also confident of a full house at alternative times throughout the year. Whitby Regatta, a regatta at sea and a carnival on land, is among the times that the Whitby residents have a fun-filled weekend, the town is packed with large numbers of visitors sharing in the friendly atmosphere making certain another bumper economic boom for the hoteliers. Folk Week, held at the end of August, is popular all over the country, a magnet for folk groups, musicians and spectators. The town is typically packed to capacity with music and dancing regularly taking place on the streets of the town. Folk Week yet again ensures that the whole town benefits from a welcome injection of cash from the visitors.
As the hotels in Whitby look forward with optimism for the coming season, there is a certain confidence that this year will bring more tourism to the town to ensure the survival of the hotel sector.
