A bonanza of business in store for Keighley area in Tour de France frenzy (From Keighley News)

A bonanza of business in store for Keighley area in Tour de France frenzy

7:00am Friday 25th January 2013 in Keighley By Alistair Shand

Keighley and the Worth Valley could be set for a multi-million-pound bonanza on the back of the Tour de France.

Hotels are expected to enjoy a bookings boom. And other businesses along the route will be examining how they can cash in, with pictures from the event being beamed across the globe.

One Haworth bed and breakfast business has already experienced the positive impact.

Mike Hutchinson, owner of the Ye Sleeping House in Main Street, was booked-up within hours of the announcement. “It sounds like a couple of those coming are cyclists who used to visit the area many moons ago,” he said.

“News of the Tour de France passing through this area is absolutely superb for Keighley district and for Haworth.

“Indeed, the whole of Yorkshire should benefit, and it reminds everyone across the world we are a tourism area.”

Keighley town centre manager, Phil Smith, said the announce-ment was “good news for the town”. He added: “Keighley Town Centre Association will be sitting down with partners and planning how we might benefit businesses in the town and beyond.

“If the race generates anywhere near the support and recognition the Olympic Torch relay created last year, it can only be of benefit to everyone.”

Keighley town mayor, Councillor George Metcalf, said: “It has got to bring more trade to the town – everyone will benefit. People from all over the world will be here.”

Dr Matt Stroh, who chairs the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and the Bronte Country Tourism Partnership, described the news as “brilliant”.

“It’s just a fantastic lift for the valley,” he added. “The area is already popular with mountain bikers, but this will give a great focus for road cycling as well.”

Their enthusiasm was shared by Keighley MP Kris Hopkins.

He said: “Bronte Country is rightly famous the world over, and the arrival of the undisputed greatest mobile show on Earth will do wonders for the area’s global profile and, crucially, the local economy.”