TWO well-known Welsh entrepreneurs have teamed up to provide a unique offer for the tourism and hospitality sectors in Wales.

PR and marketing expert Robert Petersen and sustainable tourism specialist Nicki Page are working together to transform the way businesses in the sectors promote themselves and their sustainability.

Using their knowledge and experience, the pair plan to offer tailored packages of support to government bodies, charities and tourism and hospitality businesses in Wales to help them shout about their climate credentials and attract visitors and investment from across the world.

Nicki Page said: “Climate change is having a significant impact upon the world, driving businesses and organisations of all sizes to adopt more sustainable practices.

“Unless tourism and hospitality businesses accelerate their implementation of sustainable operations, they risk regulatory intervention and the loss of customers and investment.

“Our mission is to help tourism and hospitality businesses and organisations in Wales to change the way they think, to help them rewrite their narratives to promote themselves and their sustainability.”

Rob Petersen said: “Tourism is a vital industry for Wales, bringing hundreds of millions of pounds into the Welsh economy every year. But since Covid the industry has struggled and visitor numbers are down, and the planned visitor levy could impact this further.

“That’s why it’s vital that Wales’s tourism and hospitality brands, from hotels and restaurants to campsites and cafes, commit to a sustainable agenda that is good for people and planet.

“Most importantly, they must tell the world what they are doing and why they are doing it, and that’s what Nicki and I are here to help them with.

‘’With the emergence of AI as a key tool in planning and delivering marketing and PR campaigns, we will use all the relevant media channels to ensure that the sector’s key messages are delivered to target audiences in Wales and beyond.’’

Ms Page is the founder of TLC Harmony, a consultancy business that helps tourism, travel and hospitality businesses comply with sustainability requirements by measuring and addressing their impacts on climate and biodiversity.

She has worked with governments and tourism providers across the world, delivering solutions that balance the demands of business with the needs of local communities.

In Wales, she recently worked on a sustainability programme with Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, evaluating the resort’s environmental impact and its greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Petersen has had a long career in marketing, advertising and public relations, and ran one of Wales’ oldest public relations firms, Petersens PR, for more than 20 years. He has worked with many tourism and hospitality clients, including Bluestone Resort, the former Wales Tourist Board, and most recently the Mercure Hotel Newport.

Mr Petersen and Ms Page first met in the 1990s when they worked together on an award-winning communications and marketing campaign for the launch of the St David’s Hotel and Spa in Cardiff Bay, Wales’s first 5-star hotel.

Ms Page said: “I have known Rob for more than 30 years, and over that time I have seen him lead the marketing and PR scene in Wales with his professional and innovative approach to strategy and content.

“I am delighted we are once again working together to shake up the Welsh tourism and hospitality sectors with the aim of putting sustainability at the top of the agenda.

“Together, we will bring our shared passion and creativity to this purpose-driven transformation mission.”

PHARMACIES are calling for stricter regulation of online sales of weight-loss injections, warning of risks to patient safety amid predictions of a surge in demand this year.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), representing independent community pharmacies, has urged the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) to require more thorough consultations with patients before dispensing weight-loss injections and other high-risk medications online.

The NPA cautioned that existing regulations allow medicines to be supplied without adequate consultation or access to patient records, leaving patients vulnerable. They called for a mandatory two-way consultation process to ensure prescribers have a full understanding of patients’ medical histories before issuing such treatments.

Greater safeguards needed

Responding to draft GPhC guidelines, the NPA criticised the proposed safeguards, stating they “still leave the door open for medicines to be prescribed and supplied without appropriate two-way patient consultation or access to a full clinical picture, particularly with high-risk medicines.”

The association recommended prescribers engage in direct dialogue with patients—either in person or via telephone—before offering weight-loss medications such as Mounjaro injections. The NPA also stressed the importance of obtaining comprehensive medical histories, rather than relying solely on online questionnaires.

Nick Kaye, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said:
“Obesity is one of the biggest challenges facing our country, and pharmacies want to play their part in helping patients achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
“Weight-loss injections can be effective when prescribed as part of a carefully managed programme, but the current regulations allow some patients to access these medications inappropriately, without proper consultation or examination of medical records.”

Addressing rising demand

The call for tighter regulations comes as demand for weight-loss treatments is expected to rise, with the government planning to expand the rollout of such medications. Many pharmacies already dispense weight-loss treatments or include them in private weight-loss programmes, emphasising a need for best practices to prioritise patient safety.

The NPA highlighted cases of patients who had been inappropriately prescribed weight-loss injections, including individuals with eating disorders or those with body mass indexes (BMI) outside the licensed range. Such cases increase the risk of severe adverse effects.

Kaye added:
“Medicines are not like ordinary goods for sale; they must be handled with great care because they have the power to harm as well as to heal. We urge the GPhC to make a full consultation compulsory for high-risk medicines and ensure supply is prioritised for those with the greatest clinical need, including those with type 2 diabetes.”

Warning against unregulated sellers

The NPA and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have also warned against purchasing weight-loss injections from unregulated sources, such as beauty salons or social media platforms. Counterfeit medications from these suppliers pose significant health risks.

The NPA advised patients to consult a pharmacist if they are unsure about weight-loss treatments, ensuring they receive safe and effective care as part of a programme to achieve sustainable lifestyle changes.

JOYCE WATSON MS, Labour Senedd Member for Mid and West Wales, has announced her decision not to stand in the next Senedd Election.

In a statement issued on Friday (Jan 24), Ms Watson said: “I have taken the very difficult decision to not stand as a candidate at next year’s Senedd Election.

“Serving the Labour Party has been the privilege of my life. To do so representing Mid and West Wales has been an incredible honour. I must thank all the people I have met and worked with on issues and campaigns across the years, and thank Labour members and colleagues for their trust and support.”

Reflecting on her personal journey, Ms Watson shared her roots in Tywyn, Manorbier, Cosheston, and Cardigan, where she grew up as one of eight children. After raising her family across the region, she settled in Pembrokeshire.
“I never dreamed that one day I would be elected to serve the people and places I know and love so well,” she said.

Throughout her tenure, Ms Watson focused on making a tangible impact. She highlighted her work addressing human trafficking, advocating for the construction industry, and representing the Senedd on international platforms, including Europe and the Commonwealth. She also established the White Ribbon campaign against domestic violence in Wales.

“Since I was first elected, our young democracy has grown in strength and confidence. The next election, under new rules and boundaries, will be transformative,” she said.

Ms Watson explained her decision to step aside, saying:
“It feels like the right time for me to step aside for new candidates, and to devote more time to my wonderful family.”

Looking ahead, she acknowledged the challenges of recent years but reaffirmed her commitment to Labour values:
“The past two decades have brought huge upheavals, at home and abroad, that present us with huge challenges. I remain convinced that the solutions to these problems are more co-operation and social justice, not less. I believe that Labour values are the best path to a fairer future.

“So, although I will be stepping down from the Senedd in May 2026, I will never stop fighting for these ideals.”

Ms Watson’s departure marks the end of a notable career of public service, with her contributions leaving a lasting impact on her constituents and beyond.