The Regulatory Council for the Designation of Origin ‘Sidra de Asturias‘ took home the 2024 Best Website of Asturias award yesterday at the XXVI edition of the awards, which “seek to highlight the work and effort of Asturian organizations and companies in achieving the Best Mobile Application, Best E-Commerce, Best Business/Institutional Website, Best Leisure and Free Time Website, and Best Social or Service Initiative, ultimately, the Best Website of Asturias”.
The event is organized by the newspaper EL COMERCIO, with the support of Abanca and Gijón Impulsa, and has been running for over a quarter of a century. As Leticia Álvarez, the newspaper’s deputy director, pointed out, “30 years ago, EL COMERCIO was the subject of a wonderful experiment that is practically the seed of what has brought us here today”. It was in January 1995 when an EPI student, Oscar Fernández Sierra, began uploading the newspaper’s first news items to what was then called the ‘network of networks’. He did so in a very rudimentary way, helped by his sister Marta. “He dictated, and she transcribed them into a kind of list. The tool applied today has nothing to do with Oscar and Marta’s experiments, although they laid the foundation that allows us to be where we are,” she recalled. A total of 263 developments competed in this edition, “which highlights the enormous digital talent with an Asturian stamp”.
José Manuel Cuesta, from the DOP Sidra de Asturias Council, went up to the stage twice, as their website was awarded in the Best Business/Institutional Website category and also won the Best Website of Asturias award. Cuesta appealed to the need to care for the planet. “This award supports the Asturian landscape, the Asturian apple”. He recalled that the DOP integrates 1,000 Asturian apple orchards and 31 cider mills, meaning “it integrates something natural, which encourages the development of the region and supports the planet, the essence and experiences of Asturians”. This is a very special year for their most representative beverage, following its declaration as Intangible Heritage, which celebrated its international day yesterday. “It is important that we defend our landscape, our orchards, and the activity of all the people who are cultivating and producing cider”. Cuesta, of course, encouraged everyone present at the event to help elevate and increase its importance. How? “By consuming it”.
The Parque Principado Club won in the Best Mobile Application category for offering a wide range of exclusive services and promotions. This distinction was greatly celebrated by the entire team, represented by Rosana Menéndez, marketing director of Parque Principado, who advocated for the union of services and joint support.
The Asturian brand of bags and accessories, Mimique, which was born ten years ago, was the best in the E-Commerce Website category. Their creators, sisters Yolanda and María Castellano González, highlighted that this recognition is “not only for the aesthetic part, but also the soul of every decision we make because it speaks of commitment, evolution, and heart”. Their only “window to the world” was their website and social networks, until they opened their physical store a year and a half ago, “another dream come true,” although they said their website “is the place where so many people discover our universe”. Last October, they decided to invest in a professional website. “We are a small company; we made every detail with care and designed every section”. Ultimately, the award is “for all our journey, the daily effort, and that community that has accompanied us from day one”.
The Rural Tourism Business Cluster of Asturias knows a lot about effort, having been awarded as the Best Leisure and Free Time Website. Their portal reflects a collaborative model of all companies to professionalize rural tourism with a local, authentic approach and respect for the territory. “It is an Asturias that is not only lived and felt, but also offers guarantees,” stated Silvia Molina, a tourism technician, upon collecting the distinction. She took the opportunity to call for “quality” visitors.
“Gijón is a great city with an enormous heart for making a fairer world,” said Elena Suero, director of the Albergue Covadonga Foundation, with conviction. According to the jury, the entity was worthy of the Best Service or Social Initiative Website award. This year, they have renovated their website. “We wanted it to be an open door, a tool for awareness for the whole society because we are very proud of what we do”. As Suero pointed out, “this award not only allows us to show digital creativity, but it also rewards the human projects behind it”. The Foundation has been working for years with people in situations of exclusion, offering them a dignified space, support, and opportunities to recover their lives. “Our website wants to bring reality closer and eliminate stigmas and barriers”.
The support of Gijón Impulsa for this annual contest, “which advocates the same principles it was born with: fostering and rewarding technological innovation in Asturian business and society,” is essential for it to continue gaining relevance and notoriety. Ángela Pumariega, Deputy Mayor of Gijón, recalled this and highlighted “the great example of the use and development of this communication tool, in which you have been pioneers and continue to evolve at EL COMERCIO”. She celebrated, “It is important to bet on our own, on our essence and culture, and to support the cider entrepreneurs, bet on quality, and continue working”.
Jorge Mahía, executive director of B100 and head of the Healthy project, explained Abanca’s digital banking proposal, which integrates financial, personal, and planetary health, promoting healthy and sustainable habits, with the idea that banking can be a vehicle for creating a positive impact on society. For his part, Chus García, director of data economy at the CTIC Foundation, spoke about the Web, AI, and the obligation for them to understand each other.