On January 26, 2022, a jury of tourism experts (CR) met for the fifth time to select the best who made a significant contribution to the improvement of services and the development of tourism in the Trenčín Region in 2021.

The expert jury, composed of a representative of the Trenčín self-governing region (TSK), chairwoman of the regional development commission and CR at the TSK council, representatives of regional tourism organizations (OOCR) and regional tourism organization (KOCR), met through the online platform and decided on the winners. 5th year of the popular TOP award in tourism in the Trenčín region.

As in previous years, 5 categories were awarded. TOP accommodation facility, tourism personality, TOP innovation in tourism, TOP tourist product and facility accessible to the severely disabled (SEP). Nominations for the awards were submitted by the regional tourism organizations, with each OOCR representative having the opportunity to defend their nomination, resulting in a unanimous agreement of the commission in each of the categories.

The main idea of the award is to evaluate honest work and motivate

In its assessment, the Commission considers a number of attributes. As the chairman of KOCR Trenčín region Juraj Gerlici explained, the award TOP accommodation facility does not always have to receive only luxury accommodation facility with the highest level of provided services.

“ When awarding the TOP accommodation facility, we take into account a number of aspects. One of the main goals of the competition is to evaluate the honest work and efforts of entrepreneurs or entities in tourism through the award. Equally important is their ability to adapt to the current situation in tourism , "explained Juraj Gerlice .

In accordance with the idea of the competition, the TOP accommodation facility in the Trenčín Region in 2021 became the recreational facility Rybník Horná Mariková - Modlatín. The Rybník complex is located in the village of Horná Mariková near the Javorníky Mountains. Accommodation is provided in beautiful wooden bungalows, located in a carefully maintained and fully equipped area. There is a multifunctional playground with sports equipment, fireplaces, grills and even a Finnish sauna with a tub. The area also includes a mini zoo with farm animals, which will be appreciated especially by families with children.

" This year we approached the nomination of the accommodation facility a little differently. We tried to adapt to the current situation in tourism, where the vast majority of visitors to Horné Považie are mainly families with children and domestic tourists traveling for nature. We wanted to point out the quality of accommodation, excellent services and first-class care of the owners for this area, "explained Anna Kardošová , director of OOCR Región Horné Považie.

Jozef Tomík became a personality of tourism in 2021, who has long been the head of the falconry group Hieraaëtus in Bojnice, which is involved not only in the Upper Nitra region, but also in the whole region. In addition to organizing performances in the area above the castle Bojnice, he is involved in most events or activities in Bojnice and its surroundings as a moderator, organizer or program performer. He became the inspirer and creator of some activities of the OOCR Region HOTNÁ NITRA-BOJNICE, in which he also worked as a director and currently a member of the Supervisory Board.

For the TOP innovation, the jury evaluated the mobile application Castles 3D , the content of which is augmented reality at Trenčín Castle, specifically in the Barborin Palace. The application makes the services of Trenčín Castle more attractive and modern, thanks to which it attracts many visitors looking for innovations and modern technologies. The KOCR Trenčín region was responsible for creating the application.

The current situation in travel and the ability to adapt is also reflected in the TOP tourist product in tourism, which became the product of Kúpeľov Trenčianske Teplice as, a spa stay called Post Covid Medical . It is an ideal stay for relaxation and unwinding of the body in a harmonious combination of spa and wellness procedures. Trenčianske Teplice Spa was the first spa to come up with the idea of creating a special stay, not only for patients after overcoming covide, but also for paramedics after a period of stress during a pandemic.

In the last category, the facility accessible to ŤZP , the jury awarded the Panorama Hotel in Trenčianske Teplice . The four-star hotel offers a wide portfolio of services. The basic ones include, in addition to comfortable accommodation, a restaurant, a lobby bar and excellent wellness, care for guests with disabilities.

The TOP Gastro category is also part of the award. However, its winner is not decided by an expert commission. The opportunity to decide every year will be given to the general public in an online vote, which takes place in December. In the current year, the winner with the highest number of votes was the Alej restaurant in Bojnice with a total of 191 votes.

Every year, the TOP award in tourism is very popular with the professional and lay public, as it represents a guarantee of quality and an appreciation of the honest work of employees in tourism.

In Trenčín 28.1.2022

Text: PG