THE Celtic Manor Resort and the Abergavenny Food Festival are among the Gwent tourism events and businesses recognised in the National Tourism Awards for Wales 2015.

The awards, which are run by Visit Wales, recognise the best in Welsh tourism and include categories such as Best Place to Stay, Best Place to Eat, Best Day Out, Best Event, Best Visitor Welcome, Tourism Skills Development, Best Business Tourism and the new Rising Star category, which recognises those who are up and coming in the industry.

The Celtic Manor Resort at Newport received a gold award and named best business tourism in Wales, a silver in the best place to stay in a hotel category and silver in the tourism skills development category, during the ceremony at the Vale Resort in Hensol on Wednesday night.

The resort’s chief executive, Ian Edwards said: “We are delighted to win a National Tourism Award for Wales, especially following such a memorable year when we partnered with the Welsh Government to host the 2014 Nato summit.”

The Abergavenny Food Festival was among the three best large events – taking home a silver award. The festival, now in its 17th year, takes place over two days in September and attracts over 30,000 visitors and the food industry’s top names.

The festival’s chief executive, Heather Myers said: “To win the silver award behind the iconic Wales Rally GB is a fantastic.”

“The best and the greatest in Wales were showcased at the awards with a number of Gwent businesses honoured.”

Husband and wife Malcolm and Fiona Wilton won gold for Monmouthshire Cottages, Chepstow for offering the best visitor welcome in Wales. Mr Wilton said they are ‘over the moon’.

He added: “We are a small family business and work really hard to look after our guests. To be recognised in this way is fabulous.”

The White Hart Village Inn, Llangybi, scooped a bronze award for best small restaurant while Raspberry Tea Room in Cwmbran took silver in the best place to eat in a café category.

Deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism, Ken Skates said: “The National Tourism awards are the Oscars of the tourism industry and pay tribute to those who are committed and passionate about their businesses and tourism and Wales.”