The waiting is over for businesses, organisations and individuals as the finalists have been announced for the inaugural Mid Wales Tourism Awards.

Designed to celebrate and showcase the region’s exceptional tourism industry, the biennial awards have 42 finalists in 13 categories.

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.

Award winners and finalists may be selected to represent the region at the Wales National Tourism Awards in March 2020.

The awards are 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.

Steve Hughson, Mid Wales Regional Tourism Forum chair, said:

“The Mid Wales Tourism Awards feed into the Wales National Tourism Awards as a perfect showcase of the variety and quality Mid Wales has to offer. Tourism is an important part of the Mid Wales economy.”

MWT Cymru’s chief executive Val Hawkins said:

“We are delighted with the significant number of entries received from tourism businesses across the region for these inaugural awards. The quality of entries has been excellent and highlights the high standards that we are now achieving in Mid Wales tourism industry.

“I would like to thank all the businesses and individuals that entered the awards and congratulate the shortlisted finalists. We are all looking forwards to the awards night which is our chance to showcase the very best of Mid Wales.”

The largest category is Young Tourism Person of the Year, supported by Grŵp Colegau NPTC Group of Colleges, which has seven finalists. The award is designed to recognise young entrepreneurial, professional and business talents aged 30 years and under.

The finalists are: Hannah Quincey, King Arthurs Labyrinth, Corris; Amy Williams, West Wales Holiday Cottages, Aberporth; Amy Clark, Nags Head, Garthmyl; Alice Yeoman, NPTC Group of Colleges; Geraint Morris, The Granary, Newtown and Ash Cooperwhite, The Granary, Newtown.

The other finalists are: Best Hotel: Portmeirion Hotel, The Dragon Hotel, Montgomery and Trefeddian Hotel, Aberdovey. Best B&B or Guest House: Gwesty Cymru, ​Aberystwyth; The Royston, ​Llanbrynmair and The Nags Head, ​Garthmyl. Best Self Catering: Trefeddian (Self Catering), Aberdovey; Mid Wales Holiday Lets, Rhayader and Tanyresgair Cottages, Aberystwyth.

Best Glamping or Quirky Accommodation: [email protected] Cottage, Lampeter; Canvas & Campfires, ​Lampeter and Upper Gelli, Welshpool. Best Camping, Touring, Holiday Park or Holiday Home Park: Islawrffordd Caravan Park, ​Tal-y-Bont; Maesmawr Farm Resort, Caersws and Fforest Fields, ​Hundred House, Llandrindod Wells.

Best for Groups: Plas Dinam, ​Llandinam; Tynrhyd Retreat, ​Aberystwyth; Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells. Best Place to Eat or Drink: The Granary, ​Newtown; The Nags Head, ​Garthmyl and Y Crochan, Corris.

Best Activity or Experience: Corris Mine Explorers, ​Corris; Falconry Experience Wales, Machynlleth and Epic Fishing Ltd, ​New Quay. Best Attraction, supported by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society: King Arthurs Labyrinth, ​Corris; Talyllyn Railway, Tywyn and Dan-Yr-Ogof National Showcave Centre for Wales, Abercraf. Best event: Wonderwool Wales, ​Builth Wells; Welshpool 1940's Weekend; Glanusk Estate Fayre, Crickhowell.

Best Third Sector, supported by Social Business Wales: Crickhowell Resource & Information Centre, ​Crickhowell; RSPB Ynys-hir, Machynlleth; Centre for Alternative Technology, ​Machynlleth. Tourism Innovation Award, supported by Cambrian Training: moduLog Glamping Pods & Cabins, Builth Wells; West Wales Holiday Cottages, Aberporth and Ty Cwch, Llandysul.

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 looked for entries that supported the region both through their marketing and a range of activities.

Already signed up as sponsors are 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.

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.