At a conference on business and innovation on the shores of Vatnajökull last weekend, the Cluster Harvest Festival was held at Smyrlabjörg on Friday night, hosted by the State of Vatnajökull and the East Skaftafellssýsla Tourism Association.
Recognitions were given on the one hand from the State of Vatnajökull and FASK, Vitinn - another guiding light, and on the other hand from the Icelandic Tourist Board.
The choice was made by the former Hotel Höfn, which has been a major pillar in the tourism industry in the area.
The lighthouse - another beacon is provided to companies or individuals who in one way or another have been a beacon to other parties in the industry.
The Icelandic Tourist Board also awarded recognition for Professional Development in Tourism and Research, the award was presented by Pétur Rafnsson on behalf of the Icelandic Tourist Board, but the award went to Nýheimar. Ari Þorsteinsson accepted the award on behalf of Nýheimar.
The award was given to all parties within Nýheimar who, on the one hand, through purposeful co-operation between themselves and on the other hand through strong and growing co-operation with companies in tourism, food and culture, as well as enthusiastic and energetic individuals and entrepreneurs, provided new strong foundations for tourism. in the State of Vatnajökull. This has further strengthened the strong tourism industry that has been built up in recent decades and is known nationally for its cohesion, courage and daring.
At the same time, systematic work has been done to build bridges to neighbors, both in the east and west as well as across the country. This applies equally to co-operation on a social level as well as on behalf of individual companies or individuals. With this, we have continued to develop the journey that the pioneers of previous years set out on a long time ago with Árni Stefánsson, hotel manager at Hótel Höfn, at the forefront.
Members of Nýheimar are: (listed in alphabetical order)
Búnaðarsamband Suðurlands
The upper secondary school in East Skaftafellssýsla
Bird Observatory in Southeast Iceland
University Center in Hornafjörður
Hornafjörður Cultural Center
Matís
The Iceland Innovation Center, formerly the East Iceland Entrepreneurship Center
State of Vatnajökull
East Iceland Knowledge Network
Naturally
In addition to these, many companies and projects have had facilities there for a longer or shorter period of time.