The regional tourism organization Trenčín region continues the 6-year tradition of awarding the best in tourism in the Trenčín region. On Thursday, March 23, 2023, in the premises of the MA Bazovského Gallery in Trenčín, representatives of establishments that have significantly contributed to the development of tourism in the region with their services or innovative approach received the awards.

The title "TOP in the tourism industry in the Trenčín region for 2022" was awarded in the categories - accommodation facility, gastronomic facility, personality of the tourism industry, innovation in the tourism industry, tourist product and facility accessible to the severely disabled. As in previous years, the laureates of the five categories were selected by an expert jury composed of a representative of the Trenčín Self-Governing Region (TSK), representatives of member regional tourism organizations (OOCR) and regional tourism organization (KOCR) Trenčín Region. As the only award category, the TOP gastro establishment in the Trenčín Region for 2022 was voted by the public via an online form.

The laureates received recognition in the form of awards from the hands of the vice presidents of the Trenčín self-governing region, Jozef Trstenský and Michal Bartek, and the chairman of the KOCR Trenčín region, Juraj Gerlici. "Every year, with the awards, we try to highlight not only lucrative and the most modern places, but also hard work and effort. Every modernization, innovation or creation of a new product in the tourism industry requires effort, dedication and enthusiasm, and this is an important criterion that we take into account every year, " said Gerlici.

Hotel Slovakia in Trenčianske Teplice became the TOP accommodation facility in the Trenčianske region for 2022 . In 2020 and 2021, the hotel underwent a complete renovation, and in 2022, its accommodation, catering and spa capacities were fully operational again. "The award is a satisfaction for all the employees who make up the hotel. We will try to fulfill the capacities of the facility and continue the established standard," said the hotel's operational director Milota Macho.

The Motorest Conti restaurant in Trenčianská Tepla won the award for the most successful gastro establishment in the Trenčín Region last year . Among the 154 nominated establishments, a restaurant with a long tradition won first place. Out of the total number of 2,060 votes, 184 decisive votes were cast for Motorest Conti. "It's an amazing feeling. We were pleasantly surprised by the news of the award. We are a family business that has been operating for 23 years. The TOP gastro title for 2022 is a great satisfaction for us," said Angelika Petrovičová, the owner of the Conti restaurant, on the occasion of the award.

Michal Feník, the owner of Bikepark Kálnica, became a personality of the tourism industry . The jury appreciated the long-term efforts dedicated to the development and improvement of the well-known bicycle park in the village of Kálnica and the organization of the largest bicycle festival in Slovakia, BikeFest.

The jury chose BotanyPark in Bojnice for the TOP innovation in CR , which offers more than 1,500 cacti and succulents to admire. Attractiveness of this nature is a novelty in the upper Nitra and at the same time the only one of its kind in the region. It is interesting that every single cactus was grown from a seed by one of the founders, Jozef Šuráni. "Building a botanical garden is a dream come true for me. I am grateful for the award, which is proof that we have created something meaningful. At the same time, it is a commitment to continue to do my job as well as possible," Šurani expressed his joy at the award.

In the TOP tourist product category, the commission awarded Camping Manínska tiesňava. The jury appreciated the extensive reconstruction and modernization of the area, which had been dilapidated for years. Camping in an important tourist area, such as the Manín Gorge, currently offers complete tourist facilities, accommodation in nice log cabins, space for tents and caravans. In addition to accommodation, it provides visitors with a wide range of services, such as the rental of board games, electric scooters or the possibility to swim in the pool, which is part of the complex.

In the last category, facilities accessible to the disabled, the jury awarded the prize to the cultural center PX centrum in Považská Bystrica. "The PX center is the center of culture in the city, where immobile visitors come daily. The center provides barrier-free access and movement for visitors to cultural events, film screenings, the tourist information office, the exhibition hall, or the cafe. Social facilities for immobile visitors are a matter of course," explained the executive director of OOCR Horné Považie Region, Anna Kardošová.

Text: PG

Photo: Slávka Gajdošíková