The Quay Hotel in Deganwy, North Wales, has become the first business across the country to complete a new training initiative designed to provide visitors with a "unique" Welsh welcome.

Croeso Cynnes Cymreig (A Warm Welsh Welcome) is the result of a joint venture between Visit Wales, the Welsh Language Board, the Tourism Training Forum for Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government, and features three components. A customer service course and two self-assessment modules are included as part of the programme, which includes a focus on businesses' knowledge of local history, landscape, food and culture to strengthen a sense of place.

The use of Welsh language in the business place is also targeted as part of the initiative in a bid to ensure that visitors are given the chance to experience both basic greetings and full use of bilingual signage. Welsh heritage minister Alun Ffred Jones said: "This new training programme gives those working in our tourism industry the confidence, skills and knowledge to share Wales's language, history and culture with our visitors by providing a high quality welcome which is distinctive to Wales.

"Tourism is a highly competitive global industry and here in Wales we must always be on the look out for initiatives that give us the competitive advantage. I would encourage all businesses who come into contact with visitors to consider completing the Croeso Cynnes Cymreig training programme."