A BUSINESS that lets luxury holiday apartments in Rhayader collected the award for Best Self-Catering or Self-Contained Accommodation at the inaugural Mid Wales Tourism Awards.

Mid Wales Holiday Lets, Rhayader, collected the accolade at a glittering awards ceremony held at The Hafren, Newtown, which was attended by Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas.

The compere was Welsh tourism personality Jonathan Jones, CBE.

The business goes forward to represent Mid Wales at the National Tourism Awards for Wales in May 2020.

Designed to celebrate and showcase the region’s exceptional tourism industry, the biennial awards were organised and managed by MWT Cymru on behalf of Mid Wales Tourism Forum and supported by Visit Wales, the Welsh Government’s tourism arm.

A dedicated Tourism Awards Advisory Group was established specifically to assist with the awards.

 Rhys Thomas, who owns Mid Wales Holiday Lets in partnership with Alan Samuel and Thomas Evans, said: “Winning this award is epic and we are very proud to be representing Rhayader. It’s another step in what we are trying to achieve, which is to grow and become the best holiday lets business in Mid Wales for the next 10 years.”

Mid Wales Holiday Lets has luxury apartments offering stylish, pet and biker friendly, self-catering accommodation in the heart of Rhayader.

The business, which was established in 2013, won the Start-Up Business Award at Powys Business Awards in 2016. 

It now has a cluster of properties offering more than 30 sleeping areas for large groups, families and those wanting to explore Mid Wales and the Cambrian Mountains on mountain bike, motorcycle or foot.

The business, which is embedded in the local community, has increased turnover by around 15% by launching an interactive, high quality website. Packages offered include a fungi foray with Dan Butler and catered options by working with Lost Arc Cafe and local public houses.

Working with the Lost Arc and building a large dining room in Glandwr House, the business has introduced a chalet style system for biking

breaks. Working with local specialists, the business offers bike hire to guests who want to explore Mid Wales on two wheels.

Guest hampers, cleaning products, furniture and furnishings are purchased from local shops, two local people are employed as housekeepers

and local contractors have carried out £300,000 of renovations over the past three years. 

Runners up for the award were Trefeddian (Self Catering), Aberdovey and Tanyresgair Cottages, Aberystwyth.

 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.

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.

 

Pictured: Rhys Thomas, Alan Samuel and Thomas Evans from Mid Wales Holiday Lets, Rhayader receive the Best Self-Catering Award from County Times and Express editor Nick Knight (second

from right) at the Mid Wales Tourism Awards held at The Hafren, Newtown.