THOUSANDS of visitors will flock to Hull and the East Riding in the coming weeks, putting pressure on the region's hotels, guest houses and B&Bs.

But the improving quality and range of visitor accommodation in East Yorkshire means the area is now well prepared for tourists.

People travelling here for the Global Food Festival, Clipper yacht race or Freedom Festival can now choose between many great options.

As part of the Mail's Bounce Back campaign, which aims to help the region overcome the economic downturn, we have been highlighting what the region has to offer tourists and business people.

One is the Portland Hotel on Paragon Street in the Hull city centre, which was the first hotel in the city to be awarded the AA's four stars.

It boasts 126 bedrooms all with high speed Internet, a range of restaurants and bars and offers guests complimentary use of a health and fitness centre.

Shadia Thanon, the sales manager at Portland Hotel, said: "It's the level of service that's why we have got the four stars, we have a 24-hour concierge service and next day laundry, a range of food, all those additional services"

The hotel has now introduced an afternoon tea at the Baytree Cafe for day-trippers or shoppers who want to treat themselves.

Ms Thanon said: "It's good providing things like that which make people stay in the area but still make it a special day out."

The sales manager believes the whole city has seen positive changes.

She said: "I've seen improvements in our hotel and also with the whole of Hull as a venue – there seem to have been a lot of improvements.

"People seem to be really enthusiastic about the city, people are very passionate about improving it and it seems to be getting busier."

But the bustle of the city may not appeal to everyone.

Visitors looking for a more rural setting could turn to the newly opened Broadgate Farm cottages which have been awarded four stars with an 85 per cent score from the Visit Britain inspectors.

These idyllic holiday rents, are set in 19 acres of grass and woodland and located between Beverley and Walkington.

They were unveiled to the public last month and have already received advance bookings online from as far afield as South Africa, Holland, the US, France and Australia.

Elaine Robinson and her partner Steve Holtby, a professional builder, spent more than a year renovating the two cottages.

Elaine said: "We have concentrated on quality, on the materials used and quality furnishing.

"It has a nice design and comfortable feel. We have invested in really nice beds. I want people to return so I will ensure it is as comfortable as possible."

Elaine believes the East Riding has huge potential for tourism if people are made more aware of its many attractions. She said: "What I have been trying to do on my website is create a section that promotes the area and people are often quite surprised how much there is around here."

She hopes to eventually complete five holiday cottages in total and is opening another two next year.

They seem in high demand with the first two cottages already booked up over Christmas.

There are further hotel plans in the pipeline in Hull with planning permission granted for the Trinity Quays hotel, a £50m high rise overlooking the Humber river.

Hotel giants Millennium Hotels and Resorts will build a 141-room four-star establishment next to Myton Bridge. Work is expected to start on this project later in the year.

And in July, the Premier Inn opened in Tower Street, Hull city centre.

Some 40 new jobs were created with the launch of the 136-bedroom hotel.

Janet Reuben, chief executive of tourism organisation Visit Hull and East Yorkshire – a Bounce Back partner – said: "There is investment going in, we're finding that across the range of visitor accommodation.

"Basically what is happening is more people coming and there is a whole range of things that bring a focus into the area, whether it's David Hockney's paintings of the Yorkshire Wolds or the 2018 bid or the festivals and all those events that are happening.

"I think there's a greater spotlight on our region.

"I don't think the new hotels would be coming in if they didn't see the opportunity."