National Tourism Awards Wales 2013

Now that was a AWESOME adventure!!

The Celtic Quest Coasteering team joined over 500 people to celebrate some of the best businesses in Welsh Tourism at the National Tourism Awards Wales 2013.

The award ceremony and dinner took place at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, what a wicked location. It was great to see so many organisations of all sizes and from all over the country. An amazing atmosphere, nervous excitement but most of all fun.

Hosted by Radio 1 DJ Aled Haydn Jones, the presentations kicked off with the various accommodation awards for Best Places to Stay in Wales. All the winners are listed below, but a big congratulations to St Brides Spa, fellow Pembrokeshire Tourism member, who are officially the Best Place to Stay – Hotel.

We were over the moon to have been shortlisted for a National Award and pretty soon our wait was over, Aled introduced the finalists for the Best Visitor Experience in Wales. Up against some pretty stiff competition from Cardiff City FC and Zip World we were stunned when they announced the winner…..it was us!!

But that’s not all….we were buzzing but we couldn’t relax just yet, we were also finalists for the Technology in Tourism Award. As Aled worked his way through the other category finalists and winners, the excitement of table 9 was almost palpable.

shortlisted as a finalist alongside Your Tourism Ltd and Celtic Manor Resort, it was a surprise and huge compliment when Richard Turner CCO at Eysys (category sponsor) announced Celtic Quest Coasteering as the winner!

Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, said:
“Congratulations to all the winners at this year’s National Tourism Awards for Wales. They represent everything that is great about Welsh tourism – passion, commitment, creativity and drive. It’s an outstanding achievement, especially given the calibre of entries and finalists that we had this year. It’s because of businesses like these that tourism is thriving in Wales. We are delighted that we could celebrate their achievements and reward their best practice at the awards.”

Winners included:

Best Event – Abergavenny Food Festival, Abergavenny
Best Place to Eat – Café – The Old Station, Tintern
Best Place to Eat – Pub – The Bell at Skenfrith, Abergavenny
Best Place to Eat – Restaurant- Large – Signatures Restaurant, Conwy
Best Place to Eat – Restaurant – Small – Llansantffraed Court, Abergavenny
Best Place to Stay – Guest Accommodation – Llwyn Helyg Country House, Llanarthne
Best Place to Stay – Holiday, touring and camping parks – Plassey Holiday Park, Wrexham
Best Place to Stay – bunkhouses, hostels and alternative – Cosy Under Canvas, Newchurch
Best Place to Stay – Hotel – St Brides Spa Hotel, Saundersfoot
Best Place to Stay – Self Catering – Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens and Cottages, Isle of Anglesey
Best Visitor Experience – Celtic Quest Coasteering, Haverfordwest
Business Tourism Operator – Radisson Blu Hotel, Cardiff
Most Successful Tourism Team – Trecco Bay Holiday Park, Porthcawl
Outstanding achievement Award – Gordon Green, Green Events ltd, Mid Wales
Regional Tourism Award – Capital – Welsh Whisky Company, Aberdare
Regional Tourism Award – Mid – Y Talbot, Tregaron
Regional Tourism Award – North – Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways, Porthmadog
Regional Tourism Award – South West – Dan-yr-Ogof, The National Showcaves Centre for Wales, Swansea
Technology in Tourism Award – Celtic Quest Coasteering, Haverfordwest
Young Entrepreneur Award – RibRide, Anglesey – Phil Scott & Tom Ashwell