Local tourism winners revealed

The stars of the Mid Wales tourism and hospitality industry shone brightly as businesses, organisations and individuals were recognised at the inaugural Mid Wales Tourism Awards last night (Thursday).

Designed to celebrate and showcase the region's exceptional tourism industry, the biennial awards brought together 42 finalists in 13 categories for a glittering ceremony at The Hafren, Newtown. Compere for the evening was Welsh tourism personality Jonathan Jones, CBE.

The awards are organised by MWT Cymru with support from Mid Wales Tourism Forum, a public and sector partnership and Visit Wales, the Welsh Government’s tourism arm. A dedicated Tourism Awards Advisory Group was established specifically to assist with the awards.

The winners included Corris Mine Explorers, Corris, who collected the Best Activity / Experience Award, Dan-Yr-Ogof National Showcaves Centre for Wales, Abercraf, who added the Best Visitor Attraction Award, sponsored by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, to its list of honours, Wonderwool Wales, Builth Wells, who secured the Best Event Award and Ty Cwch, Cwmtydu, near Llandysul, who received the Tourism Innovation Award, sponsored by Cambrian Training.

The Best Hotel Award went to the Trefeddian Hotel, Aberdyfi. Gwesty Cymru, Aberystwyth collected the Best Guest Accommodation Award, Mid Wales Holiday Lets, Rhayader celebrated winning the Best Self Catering/ Self Contained Accommodation Award, The Nags Head, Garthmyl was judged the Best Place to Eat or Drink and Fforest Fields, Hundred House, near Llandrindod Wells won the Best Holiday / Camping / Touring Park Award, sponsored by Salop Leisure.

All these award winners will now represent Mid Wales at the Wales National Tourism Awards in March 2020.

Other winners who enjoyed their moment in the spotlight were The Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells, which received the Best Accommodation For Groups Award, Canvas & Campfires, ​Lampeter, which was judged the Best Glamping/ Quirky Accommodation and The Centre for Alternative Technology, near Machynlleth which collected the Best Third Sector Award.

A Young Tourism Person of the Year Award, supported by Grŵp Colegau NPTC Group of Colleges, was designed for people starting out in the industry. The winner from six shortlisted finalists was Amy Clark, manager of The Nags Head, Garthmyl.

MWT Cymru’s chief executive Val Hawkins congratulated the winners and finalists and thanked all the businesses and individuals who had entered the inaugural awards, which she said were a great showcase for Mid Wales region.

Granted an Awards Trust Mark by the Independent Awards Standards Council, the awards were open to all businesses, organisations and individuals who contribute to tourism within Mid Wales. 

The sponsors were Cambrian Training, Grŵp Colegau NPTC Group of Colleges, Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru/ Social Business Wales, Cambrian News, County Times and Express and Gazette, Mid Wales Journal and NFU Mutual.

MWT Cymru is the regional destination marketing and membership organisation for Powys, Ceredigion and Meirionnydd district of Southern Snowdonia. As a not-for-profit social enterprise company, MWT Cymru supports and represents more than 550 tourism businesses and organisations across the region.

PICTURE: Mid Wales Tourism Award winners with Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, compere Jonathan Jones, MWT Cymru chief executive Val Hawkins and chairman Rowland Rees-Evans and Mid Wales Tourism Forum chair Steve Hughson.