Businesses are being encouraged to support the inaugural Mid Wales Tourism Awards which are now open to entries.
The biennial awards are designed to celebrate and showcase the region’s exceptional tourism industry and the talented businesses, organisations and individuals driving the sector forward.
[aoa id=”1″]There are 16 categories for businesses and individuals to enter and the closing date for entries is July 31. Entry forms may be downloaded from the awards website at https://www.midwalestourismawards.co.uk/[/aoa]
The categories are: Best Hotel, Best B&B, Best Guest Accommodation, Restaurant with Rooms or Inn, Best Self Catering, Best Camping or Touring Park, Best Holiday Park or Holiday Home Park, Best Glamping/ Quirky Accommodation, Best Accommodation for Groups, Best Activity or Experience, Best Visitor Attraction, Best Event, Best Place to Eat or Drink, Best Restaurant, Best Third Sector Award, Tourism Business Innovation Award and Young Tourism Person of the Year.
Members of the public may nominate for the Young Tourism Person of the Year Award, but all other categories must be entered directly by the business or organisation.
Winners and finalists from the awards may be selected to represent the region at the Wales National Tourism Awards in March, 2020.
Category finalists will be announced on September 9 and the winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony at The Hafren, Newtown on October 17. Compere for the evening will be Welsh tourism personality Jonathan Jones, CBE.
Exclusive headline and category sponsorship opportunities are available to businesses wishing to raise their profile and show their support for the tourism sector in Mid Wales.
Already signed up as sponsors are Cambrian Training Company, Grŵp Colegau NPTC Group of Colleges, Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, Busnes Cymdeithasol Cymru/ Social Business Wales, Cambrian News and NFU Mutual.
The awards are being organised by MWT Cymru with support from Mid Wales Regional Tourism Forum, a public and sector partnership and Visit Wales, the Welsh Government’s tourism arm.
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.
A dedicated Tourism Awards Advisory Group, established specifically to assist with the awards, includes representatives from Visit Wales, Ceredigion County Council, Powys County Council and others.
Steve Hughson, Mid Wales Regional Tourism Forum chair, said:
“These awards are important to showcase the very best of what is on offer in Mid Wales to a wider audience. It’s a chance to recognise excellence in the different venues and tourism opportunities within the region.
“Mid Wales is being talked about all over the world, so it is only fitting that these awards are introduced to reward the outstanding work that we are seeing every single day of the year.”
MWT Cymru’s chairman Rowland Rees-Evans said: “The Mid Wales Tourism Awards recognise businesses, organisations and individuals that have demonstrated outstanding achievement. In addition, they recognise excellence by those who care about the tourism industry and their customers and those who work hard to ensure visitors have a fantastic experience.
“This is an opportunity to raise the profile of the wonderful attractions and businesses that make Mid Wales such a unique place to visit. The awards are ultimately our chance to promote the region and I wholeheartedly encourage everyone involved in the sector to participate, promote or sponsor.
“We know that Mid Wales businesses are often modest about their achievements, but if you’re passionate about what you do, this is your opportunity to shine.”
Granted an Awards Trust Mark by the Independent Awards Standards Council, the awards are open to all businesses, organisations and individuals who contribute to tourism within Mid Wales. As part of the scoring, judges will be looking for entries that support the region both through their marketing and a range of activities.
