MEDIA CONTACT:                                                               FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bob Titley, The Robert Titley Consultancy

Tel: 917-690-8418

Email: roberttitley@aol.com OR Bob@theroberttitleyconsultancy.com

2014 NATO Summit to be held in Wales, September 4-5th

Wales looks forward to welcoming the world

New York, NY July 16, 2014 -- Croeso! Or Welcome in Welsh. On September 4 ^th and 5 ^th , 2014 Wales will welcome leaders from across the globe to the 2014 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit. Not only will this be the first NATO Summit in Wales, it will be the first time a sitting US President will visit this Celtic country. The Summit will take place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, located just twenty minutes outside the Welsh capital city of Cardiff.

First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones said, “The NATO summit will bring Wales unprecedented levels of international attention and an opportunity like no other to advertise the benefits of our modern and dynamic country to the world. We pride ourselves in our great business investment potential and are already home to many international companies.

The summit will be the largest political gathering ever to be held in Britain. This is a fantastic showcase opportunity for Wales and we intend to maximise this to the full.”

Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron said, “It’s a great moment for Wales to advertise its modern and economically brilliant face to the world.” He added, “We had the G8 in Northern Ireland, we had the Olympics in London, we’ve got the Commonwealth Games in Scotland - it is Wales’ turn for one of these big events, a great showcase for Wales and a great opportunity and I’m really pleased that we are going to be doing that.”

Situated in South East Wales, the summit is positioned at the crossroads of Cardiff, Newport, and a number of historic market towns in the region including, Abergavenny, Brecon and Hay-on-Wye. Delegates attending the summit will stay in and around the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport – home to the 2010 Ryder Cup. Host hotels include: Best Western Plus Maldron Hotel Cardiff, Novotel Cardiff Centre, Mercure Cardiff Centre, Park Inn By Radisson Cardiff City Centre, Hampton By Hilton Newport East, and Holiday Inn Newport. With about 60 world leaders and up to 1,500 media delegates due to arrive, Wales hopes increased media attention will inspire travelers to come and experience its warm Welsh welcome, award-winning countryside, budding culinary scene and distinctive Celtic history.

-more-

The 2014 NATO Wales logo includes four icons of the country’s history and culture: a castle, the Welsh dragon, a Celtic knot, and the Newport Transporter Bridge. According to Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s Secretary General, the logo features, “strong symbols of Wales in a modern way – drawing on the past; looking to the future.” Icons of the logo include:

• 
  The Castle : Wales is home to 641 castles with more castles per square mile than any other country in the world. Four of these fortresses – Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech – make up King Edward’s Iron Ring of Castles, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Wales.

• 
  The Welsh Dragon: An image of a red dragon adorns the Welsh flag. The dragon does more than act as the face of the nation, it depicts the country’s mystical past from the legends of King Arthur to the tales of the Mabinogion.

• 
  A Celtic knot: Celtic heritage runs deep through the heart of the Welsh people. Listen as they speak Welsh -- the unfamiliar dialect is the oldest living Celtic language in the world.  

• 
  The Newport Transporter Bridge: One of only six transporter bridges left in the world, the Newport Transporter Bridge dominates the city’s skyline. The bridge represents Wales success in industry, from coal in the 1900’s to aerospace and alternative energy today.

A country with a 30,000-year-old history, Wales has proven itself as a leader in industry and achievement across generations. In the 1900’s Welsh coal powered the industrial revolution and the world's first million pound check was written in Cardiff bay. In 1927, the National Museum Cardiff opened and now houses the world’s second largest impressionist art collection; and in 2012 Wales became the first country in the world with a completely walkable perimeter.

Now, three million Welsh citizens drive a robust, growing economy with strengths in defense and aerospace, manufacturing, clean energy, tourism and media production. A vibrant Welsh economy attracts organizations from around the globe who choose to base their UK operations in Wales. With government-backed financial incentives, low commercial rents, and a talented and educated workforce, Wales provides a dynamic environment for precision engineering, cutting-edge technology and more.

Visit Wales is the Government tourism office for Wales, a country within the United Kingdom that is 180 miles long and 70 miles across at its widest point. Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are four distinct countries that make up the United Kingdom. For more information on travel to Wales, travel trade can visit www.trade.visitwales.com  and consumers can visit www.americas.visitwales.com .

###

Press Release

A Celebration of Welsh Music in NYC

Welsh choral composer Paul Mealor, Wales premier mixed voice choir Crdydd, and leading Welsh harpist Gwenllian Llyr, will join forces in March to present a magical evening of Welsh choral music at one of New Yorks best concert venues.

Described in the New York Times as one of the most important composers to have emerged in Welsh choral music since William Mathias , Paul Mealor was catapulted to international attention in 2011 when his motet Ubi Caritas was performed at the Royal Wedding Ceremony of His Royal Highness Prince William and Catherine Middleton, now HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.

He is also the first classical composer to hold both the UK classical and pop chart No 1's at the same time in December 2011 with Wherever You Are , a piece written for the British Military Wives Choir, and his music has rapidly entered the repertoire of choirs and singers around the world.

Mealor will conduct performances of many of his main works including Ubi Caritas and Wherever You Are at a one off concert in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall on Saturday March 29th . The evening will also feature the US premiere of A Welsh Prayer , a new work for choir and harp.

First Performance in America

C rdydd have enjoyed phenomenal success in recent years winning the Choir of the Festival Prize at the National Eisteddfod two years in a row in 2012 and 2013, and this opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall is a new high for the choir.

The concert will be the choirs first performance in America, however it is not their first American connection. They welcomed Eric Whitacre, one of the most popular composers of our time, to Wales in 2010 and again in 2011 to conduct special concerts of his works. And in 2013 they toured Welsh cathedrals with both National Medal of Arts recipient, composer Morten Lauridsen and Paul Mealor.

Lauridsen, Whitacre and Mealor have all praised Crdydd for their special sound and musicality. To my mind this is the best choir in Wales, says Mealor, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with them again - and to do so in such a prestigious venue.

Internationally Recognized Welsh Harpist

The choir and composer will be joined at the concert by Welsh harpist Gwenllian Llyr , who is quickly gaining international recognition for her energetic and charismatic performances.

Gwenllian has strong connections with New York City having recently graduated with a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School where she was awarded the William Schuman prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in music. And she is currently working at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

She said: I cant wait to come back to New York a city that is very close to my heart and to collaborate with Paul Mealor and C rdydd. There is a long tradition of singing with the harp in Wales, and this concert will be an opportunity to showcase this tradition and for me to perform some Welsh compositions for the harp.

Showcasing the best of Wales

In addition to performing works by Paul Mealor, Gwenllian and Crdydd will perform works by other leading Welsh composers including Karl Jenkins and William Mathias, together with arrangements of some of the best loved songs and hymns of Wales.

Concert organiser, Llyr Roberts, said: The evening will be a real celebration of Welsh choral and harp music, and will be an opportunity to showcase best of Wales in New York. The Choir will also be performing at a Cymanfa Ganu, a Welsh hymn singing event organised by the Welsh Congregation of New York on Sunday March 30. So it promises to be a great weekend!

Tickets for the concert purchased online at carnegiehall.org, and further details about the event and the choir can be found at cordydd.com and on Twitter @cordydd.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

1. Paul Mealor was born in St Asaph, North Wales in 1975. He studied composition with William Mathias and later with John Pickard, at the University of York, gaining a BA in 1997 and a PhD 2002. Since 2003 he has been Professor of Composition at the University of Aberdeen. His music has been commissioned and performed at many festivals and by many orchestras and choruses, and broadcast on major TV and Radio stations throughout the world. More details about Paul Mealor can be found at www.paulmealor.com

2. Crdydd was founded in 2000 and the choir has been conducted by Sioned James from the start. It is a mixed choir with about 45 members. The choir have won their category at the Eisteddfod 8 times in the last 13 years, and have been awarded the Choir of the Festival title 4 times in Cardiff (2008), Wrexham (2011), The Vale of Glamorgan (2012) and Denbigh (2013). They rehearse every Thursday night in Salem Chapel, Cardiff through the medium of Welsh. More details about the choir can be found at www.cordydd.com

3. Gwenllian Llyr recently graduated with a Master of Music degree in Harp Performance at The Julliard School where she was awarded the William Schuman prize for outstanding achievement and leadership in music. She has won a number of awards including the prestigious Blue Ribbon at the National Eisteddfod of Wales, First Prize at the UK Camac Harp Competition in 2010 and Seventh Prize at the USA International Harp Competition in Bloomington, Indiana, also in 2010. She has performed with renowned artists such as jazz legend Al Jarreau, actor Mathew Rhys, and international opera singer Bryn Terfel with whom she has performed for HRH The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. More details about Gwenllian can be found at gwenllianllyr.co.uk.

4. The Evening of Welsh Choral Music with Paul Mealor and Crdydd will be held on Saturday March 29 at 7:30 PM in Zankel Hall a Carnegie Hall. Tickets for the concert are available at carnegiehall.org | CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800 | Box Office at 57th and Seventh.

5. The Welsh Congregation of New York City gather once a month at Rutgers Presbyterian Church on the Upper West Side of Manhattan for worship, song and socializing. A Cymanfa Ganu is a traditional Welsh hymn singing event. Further information about the Congregation and the March 30 event can be found at http://nycwelsh.com/

Contact Details

For further details including media enquiries contact Llr Roberts, Crdydd Concert and Tour Organiser on +44 7981 014164 / cordyddnyc@gmail.com

Wales Celebrates Poet Dylan Thomass New York Connections during his

Centenary Birth Year

First Minister and Dylans Granddaughter Explore Dylans Haunts on the

Dylan Thomas Walking Tour of Greenwich Village

New Free App and Pocket Guidebook Launched

New York, New York February 27, 2014 - Waless First Minister, Carwyn Jones and Dylan Thomass granddaughter, Hannah Ellis, officially launched the walking tour of Dylans New York haunts created by his daughter Aeronwy Thomas Ellis and contemporary Welsh poet Peter Thabit Jones. A newly developed smartphone app highlights 10 places located in and around Greenwich Village synonymous with Dylan Thomas, who visited and stayed in New York City while on four reading tours of North America between 1950 and 1953. He died at St. Vincents Hospital on November 9, 1953.

Narrated by Welsh actor Nicholas McGaughey, and developed by the Pembrokeshire company Moilin Cyf, the app is a self-guided tour which takes about 1:30-2hrs to complete. More information on the app can be found on the following link http://moil.in/dtnytour . The app can be downloaded free of charge from iTunes and Google Play.

A pocket guidebook version of the tour is also available:

http://www.amazon.com/Dylan-Thomas-Walking-Greenwich-Village/dp/0893049972 or from

www.spdbooks.org/dylan-thomas-walking-tour-of-greenwich-village .

The First Minister of Wales is visiting the USA to raise the profile of Wales in time for St Davids Day festivities on March 1. St. David is the Patron Saint of Wales. He said, Im delighted to launch this new walking app today. The walking tour has given a valuable insight into his life in New York which I hope many fans of his work will wish to follow. And the Welsh Government is proud to be leading on the Dylan Thomas 100 Festival to further raise the awareness of this internationally admired Welsh cultural icon.

Dylan Thomas was born in Swansea on October 27, 1914 and the Dylan Thomas 100 Festival , celebrating the Centenary of his birth, is in full gear in Wales. The festival encompasses the entire country and beyond. And the program ranges across all artistic disciplines from literature, to opera, theatre and painting. From high profile exhibits and live performances to community-based educational programs. This celebration will transcend geographic boundaries, stretching beyond Wales to New York. For information on the New York-based events: www.dylanthomas100.org .

The Welsh Government is the devolved administration responsible for governing Wales in the UK. The Welsh Governments US office is in New York where a small but dedicated team is raising the profile of Wales in the USA in order to stimulate trade and investment, tourism, and academic and cultural links between Wales and America.

Dylan Thomas 100 is a high-profile festival to mark the centenary of Dylan Thomass birth in 2014. The Welsh Government is leading the co-ordination of activity in Wales with its partners - Arts Council of Wales; British Council; Literature Wales; Carmarthenshire County Council; Ceredigion County Council, City and County of Swansea and Cadw. The aim is to ensure the festival delivers educational, cultural and tourism benefits before, during and after 2014

Literature Wales Chief Executive, Lleucu Siencyn, said: The walking tour of Greenwich Village is a special part of Literature Wales Dylan Odyssey event programme, which offers a host of unique Dylan Thomas-inspired literary tours. We are delighted to be able to play an integral part in this strong partnership between the creative and technological industries in the development of this app which will bring the words and landscapes of Dylan Thomas to a global audience.

British Council Wales is leading the co-ordination and development of Starless and Bible Black, the international program for the Dylan Thomas 100 Centenary. The anniversary presents an important opportunity for the British Council to complement the work and investment of national partners in Wales.

Contact:

Rebecca Chin

202-223-9260

wales@allisonpr.com

FIRST MINISTER CARWYN JONES ARRIVES IN UNITED STATES FOR OFFICIAL VISIT

Various Events Planned throughout Washington, D.C. and New York in Celebration of Welsh American Relations

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 25, 2014) First Minister Carwyn Jones today arrived in the United States for an official five-day visit. Between February 25 and March 1, the First Minister will host meetings with U.S. business professionals and attend celebratory events in Washington, D.C. and New York to continue strengthening the existing cultural and economic relationship between Wales and the U.S. The First Ministers visit will kick-off with a reception on Capitol Hill to support the launch of the Congressional Friends of Wales Caucus, chaired by U.S. Congressman H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA.)

As part of his visit, the First Minister will pay tribute to the U.S. by participating in a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday, February 26. He will also attend a St. Davids Day celebration at the British Ambassadors Residence, an annual festivity hosted in honor of the patron saint of Wales.

The First Minister will then travel to New York on February 27 to tour the city by visiting the SoHo House, holding a meeting at the New York Stock Exchange and hosting an excursion alongside members of the British Council to promote the launch of a new mobile application developed for the established Dylan Thomas Walking Tour of Greenwich Village. He will later host a second St. Davids Day reception at the Consul Generals Residence, which will also double as a celebration of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Thomas is honored annually by citizens of Wales for his eclectic and vibrant poetry, and this year marks the centennial anniversary of the renowned artists birthday. Distinguished harpist Claire Jones, who formerly served as Royal Harpist to His Royal Highness the Princes of Wales, will perform at the reception to showcase her new harp piece Dylan, a musical work created to honor and depict the journey of Thomas life.

It is an honor to once again have the opportunity to visit the United States to demonstrate Wales enduring commitment to strengthening our cross-national relationship, said the First Minister. Through my meetings with business professionals and members of Congress, I hope that we can all unite in celebration of our already fruitful friendship and continue exploring new ways to improve upon international trade, tourism and culture.

Ties between the U.S. and Wales date back to the early 17 ^th century and remain strong today, with both countries sharing deep-rooted values, cultural exchanges and a vibrant trade in goods, services and knowledge. This transnational support can particularly be seen in sectors such as:

• Environment : Wales has steadfastly worked to maintain a green global footprint through investments in a number of low carbon projects. The Welsh Government is currently supporting U.S. automaker Ford in developing its fuel-efficient EcoBoost engine at its state-of-the-art plant in Bridgend, Wales. A number of U.S. companies such as Sharp, Centrica, EDF and Magnox, among others, also currently take advantage of the abundant natural and intellectual resources available with offices in the nation.
• Defense : The U.S. and Wales share an understanding of the importance of a strong defense sector not only for improved global security but also for business and employment opportunities, with tens of thousands of individuals employed in the space. Wales also holds the honor of hosting the 2014 NATO Summit, during which global leaders will gather to discuss ways to continue shaping comprehensive security solutions and strengthening international cooperation.
• Culture and Media : The performing arts and culture have long been strengths of Wales, and currently a number of well-known professionals hailing from the nation hold notable roles in theatre, television and film in the U.S. This list includes Oscar winners Sir Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Christian Bale and prominent composer Karl Jenkins, among hundreds of others.

For more information on First Minister Carwyn Jones or the country of Wales, please visit: www.wales.com .

# # #

About First Minister Carwyn Jones

Carwyn Jones was appointed First Minister of Wales in 2009, following the retirement of former First Minister Rhodri Morgan. After re-election to the National Assembly for Wales in May 2011, Carwyn Jones was re-appointed First Minister by Her Majesty The Queen, following nomination by the National Assembly for Wales. Prior to his election, he was a barrister in chambers in Swansea specialising in Criminal, Family and Personal Injury Law and a professional tutor at Cardiff University Law School. He has been a Bridgend County Borough Councillor and was Chair of the County Borough Council Labour Group. He is also a member of Amnesty International, Unison, Unite the Union and the Fabian Society. He has been a Labour Party member since 1987 and played an active role in the 'Yes for Wales' campaign.

Visit Wales and Travel+Leisure Offer a Lucky Winner

Exclusive Bloomingdales Dream Vacation: Opulence and Escape

New York, New York November 25, 2013

Fashionable travelers can enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a Bloomingdale's: Opulence and Escape vacation in Wales. One winner and a guest will discover Snowdonia National Park and the Island of Anglesey, two scenic destinations that formed the rugged backdrop for a photo shoot featured in Bloomingdale's 2013 fall menswear catalogues. The prize trip is provided courtesy of Visit Wales and Travel+Leisure magazine.

The luxurious 7 day, 6 night vacation package features round trip transatlantic flights, a rental car and pampered stays at two Welsh country estates: the Victorian Chateau Rhianfa Hotel - www.chateaurhianfa.com - inspired by Loire Valley architecture and stunningly situated overlooking the Menai Straits, and Bodysgallen Hall - www.bodysgallen.com a 17 ^th century manor with 13 ^th century origins. The winner will experience local culture with visits to Bodnant Food Centre www.bodnant-welshfood.co.uk and the Isle of Anglesey recent home of royal residents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. They'll explore the quirky architectural marvel, Portmeirion, an Italianate-style village on the coast and setting for the iconic 1960s TV series The Prisoner. A seven day Welsh Explorer Pass will grant them entry to numerous historic attractions and UNESCO World Heritage sites like Caernarfon Castle, site of HRH Prince Charles Investiture as Prince of Wales and the formidable Conwy Castle.

The sweepstakes runs until February 7, 2014. Enter once daily and view official terms and conditions at www.usa.visitwales.com