From the Lake District to Northumberland to the Borders, much of our region depends on tourism.
However, there is still snow on the ground in lots of places - and the cold weather over the first few months of this year has made national headlines.
You might expect that such a snowy start would have put visitors off, but as Lucy Taylor reports, that hasn't happened everywhere.
Watch her full report below.
Video: Scott Davidson, General Manager gives his reaction to ITV Tyne Tees on winning the national award.
Jesmond Dene House Hotel has been named City Hotel of the Year at the annual César awards. The awards are given to outstanding hotels across 10 different categories, each selected from hundreds of competing hopefuls throughout Great Britain and Ireland.
Desmond Balmer, joint editor of the Guide, said: “In well-maintained gardens in a wooded suburb of the city, Peter Candler has created an exceptional hotel with a country house feel.
The Arts and Crafts mansion has been beautifully furnished with a contemporary touch yet in keeping with the period. The attentive service by a young staff is particularly praised by our readers.”
– Jude Leitch, Tourism Development Manager, Northumberland TourismDavid's death was a great shock. David was involved with Northumberland Tourism for a long time. He was involved in the management of flagship hotels and pushed the bar of those hotels. Doxford Hall was one of the leading hotels and [David] provided a great service. So there is disappointment he is not here to take things forward.
David Hunter, a founding director of the Northumberland Tourism organisation, collapsed last Sunday at his home after a seemingly small accident while on holiday with wife Sue in the resort of Icmeler.
The 59-year-old was rushed to hospital where specialists carried out scans before discovering a blood clot on his lung.
Despite receiving emergency treatment, the father-of-two suffered a heart attack in the early hours of Monday and he died in hospital the next day.
Mr Hunter was born in Hartlepool and grew up in Morpeth, Northumberland.
Tourist attractions in Northumberland say they're suffering from a serious drop in visitor numbers - and claim that the Olympics have made things worse, not better.
One bed and breakfast owner is already £20,000 down on takings compared with last summer. Northumberland Tourism admits businesses are 'really suffering'.
Tourism in Newcastle and Gateshead is growing despite difficult economic conditions, according to new figures. In 2011, overnight tourists were up by 5%. Events such as the Turner Prize at the Baltic art museum on the Quayside are being credited for the increased number of visitors.
Despite the recession several new developments have opened. The NewcastleGateshead Initiative compiled the figures. Sarah Stewart from NewcastleGateshead Initiative hopes the trend will continue into 2012 due to The Olympics.
A mobile signposting service in Durham city centre is hoping to recruit another 10 to 15 volunteers as the high season for tourists reaches its peak.The 54 pink-uniformed volunteers in the Market Place are currently helping more than 100 people each day.
As well as giving directions to places of interest, the Pointers are ideally placed to advise visitors on how to access more detailed tourism information. They also help motorists adrift in the city centre, explain the location of park and ride bus stops and answer public transport queries.
The Durham Pointers project is funded by Durham Area Action Partnership until the end of September 2012 but organisers are confident that its success to date means that additional days on Bank Holidays and at Christmas may be possible this year.
A number of tourist attractions in our region are celebrating after winning major accolades at the Visit England Awards for Excellence.
The ceremony took place in London last night and this year there was one extra special winner.
Tourist hot spots across the region have been recognised at the annual VisitEngland awards
Read the full story
Hartlepool has won a prestigious award for it's Tall Ships Races in 2010.
The four-day weekend, which attracted an estimated 900,000 people, was named as the Best Event of the Year at the Visit England Awards for Excellence last night.
The Tall Ships Race happens every summer in European waters.
