Booooom! Celtic Quest Coasteering has been shortlisted for two National Tourism Awards for Wales….
Best Visitor Experience Award & Technology in Tourism Award 😀
A record number of Welsh tourism businesses have entered this year’s National Tourism Awards for Wales, with 59 now shortlisted for the prestigious awards.
Over 420 applications were made for the 19 National Tourism Award categories that will name the Best Place to Eat, the Best Place to Stay, the Best Visitor Experience and the Regional Tourism Awards, among others.
The awards are staged by Visit Wales, in partnership with the Wales Tourism Alliance and in commercial partnership with Quadrant Media and Communications, to recognise and reward the very best in Welsh tourism.
In total, there are 15 businesses short-listed from the Capital Region, which covers South East Wales, 12 from mid Wales, 16 from North Wales and 16 from South West Wales.
The short-listed businesses were officially announced today (Monday 17 June 2013) at the launch of the new tourism strategy for Wales by Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart. The strategy ‘Partnership for Growth’ has set the vision for the industry and Welsh Government to work in partnership to increase visitor spend to Wales.
The Minister said: “It’s fantastic to see such a high number of entries for this year’s National Tourism Awards for Wales. What’s more, the quality of those entries was outstanding. We are very fortunate in Wales to have a tourism sector of such high calibre. The shortlisted businesses are prime examples of quality businesses, helping to drive higher tourism earnings for the Welsh economy. We look forward to unveiling the winners in November.”
A panel of independent judges whittled down all entries into the announced shortlist. The finalists from that shortlist will be unveiled at the National Tourism Awards for Wales awards ceremony at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on 21 November 2013, where the overall winners will be crowned.
| Best Event | Abergavenny Food Festival
World Alternative Games Always Aim High Events Ltd |
| Best Place to Eat – Café | The Old Station, Tintern
The Bakers’ Table Caffi Florence Quayside Tearoom |
| Best Place to Eat – Pub | The Bell at Skenfrith
The Cricketers Y Ffarmers Bryn Tyrch Inn Limited The Stackpole Inn |
| Best Place to Eat – Restaurant | Llansantffraed Court
The Walnut Tree The Checkers – Restaurant with Rooms The Falcondale Hotel and Restaurant Signatures Restaurant Tyddyn Llan Sosban Ltd The Grove Narberth |
| Best Place to Stay – Guest Accommodation | Nanteos Mansion
Escape Boutique B&B Llwyn Helyg Country House |
| Best Place to Stay – Holiday, touring and camping parks | Plassey Holiday Park
Llwynifan Farm, South Wales Caravan Park Quay West Holiday Park |
| Best Place to Stay – bunkhouses, hostels and alternative | Hidden Valley Yurts
Cosy Under Canvas Trellyn Woodland Camping |
| Best Place to Stay – Hotel | Vale Resort
Bodysgallen Hall & Spa St Brides Spa Hotel |
| Best Place to Stay – Self Catering | Lon Lodges
Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens and Cottages Ffynnon Partners |
| Best Visitor Experience | Cardiff City FC
Zip World Celtic Quest Coasteering |
| Business Tourism Operator | Radisson Blu Hotel, Cardiff
Venue Cymru Bluestone National Park Resort |
| Most Successful Tourism Team | Trecco Bay Holiday Park
Gwesty Cymru Tre-Ysgawen Hall Country House Hotel and Spa Folly Farm Leisure Limited |
| Regional Tourism Award | Doctor Who Experience, BBC Worldwide
Welsh Whisky Company Bwlch Nant yr Arian Y Talbot, Tregaron Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways National Slate Museum Dan-yr-Ogof, The National Showcaves Centre for Wales Llwyn Helyg Country House |
| Technology in Tourism Award | Celtic Manor Resort
Your Tourism Community Ltd Celtic Quest Coasteering |
| Young Entrepreneur Award | Llanerch Vineyard – Ryan Davies
Adventure Beyond – Jethro Moore RibRide – Phil Scott & Tom Ashwell |
