Final Fifty Ready To Do Battle In Highlands And Islands Tourism Awards

30th September 2016

The contest to find the best tourism operators in the Highlands and Islands is hotting up with just a quarter of the original record-breaking entries now selected to challenge for the coveted trophies.

In all, 203 businesses or individuals entered or were nominated in 15 categories this year in the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards, the biggest ever response in the event's 12-year history.

Judges have now reduced the number of competitors to a 50-strong shortlist, revealed today (Friday 30 Sept).

The finalists stretch across the entire length of the region - from Shetland to Dunoon - and represent the best of the industry in areas such as hospitality, catering, innovation, hosting sporting events and managing tours and activities.

Argyll leads the way with 16 entries making the shortlist, with eight from Strathspey, six from Ross-shire, five from Skye and four from Inverness.

Entries range from large Highland estates to the only cafe on the small island of Canna; from small pubs to internationally-renowned eating establishments and from adventure holidays to get-away-from-it-all accommodation. Categories also recognise individuals who champion hospitality or are young ambassadors for the industry.

Craig Ewan, HITA chairman, said: "It's been an extremely difficult task for our judges to narrow down a record breaking entry of more than 200 to a shortlist of 50 finalists.

"The standard of entries rises every year and so everyone who has made the shortlist should be extremely proud. They represent all aspects of the Highlands and Islands tourism industry and demonstrate the quality of businesses and individuals that are working every day to improve the visitor and guest experience.

“Picking winners from this list will be a real challenge for our judging panel."

HITA, which is run in association with SSE, is recognised as one of the premier industry hospitality awards programmes in Scotland. The awards highlight and reward excellence throughout the sector which is worth more than £4.5 billion to the Scottish economy.

The competition will culminate in a grand ceremony at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, on 4 November. Winners, with the exception of the Highland Rising Star and Highland Ambassador categories, will go on to represent the region at the glittering national final of the Scottish Thistle Awards next year.

HITA is an industry-led project representing all sectors of tourism. It is overseen by a voluntary board of directors and the independent judging panel is drawn from experienced industry professionals working across the region.

This year’s sponsors also include VisitScotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Loch Ness by Jacobite, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, System2, Highland Council, NorthLink Ferries, Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Chivas Brothers, Scottish Provincial Press, Inverness Hotels Association, the Federation of Small Businesses, Calor, Macleod and MacCallum, Ritsons, and J Thomson Colour Printers.

www.highland-tourism-awards.co.uk
Facebook - www.facebook.com/Highlands.and.Islands.Tourism.Awards
Twitter - @HiTourismAwards

This year’s shortlist is –

Best Accommodation Provider
Ardgour Estate, Lochaber
Knoydart Hide, Lochaber
The Majestic Line, Dunoon
The Brochs of Coigach, Ross-shire

Best Cultural Event or Festival
Piping at Forres, Moray
Cowal Highland Gathering, Dunoon
Oban Winter Festival
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Best Informal Eating Experience
Mountain Cafe , Aviemore
Café Canna
Tralee Bay Fish and Chips, Oban
Applecross Inn, Ross-shire

Best Outdoor/Adventure Experience
Craggan Outdoors, Grantown
Wilderness Scotland, Aviemore
Go To St Kilda, Nethy Bridge
EcoVentures,Cromarty

Best Restaurant Experience
Inver Restaurant, Argyll
Kinloch Lodge Hotel & Restaurant, Skye
The Three Chimneys, Skye

Best Sporting Event
Highland 2015, Scottish Orienteering Association
Etape Loch Ness cycle sportive
Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair, Moray

Best Visitor Attraction
Glen Ord Distillery, Muir of Ord
Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, Skye
EcoVentures,Cromarty
Speyside Cooperage Visitor Centre, Craigellachie

Friendliest Pub/Bar
MacGochans, Mull
The Barn Bar, Oban

Highland Rising Star
Gillian Ross, MacGochans
Jon-Paul Saint, Links House at Royal Dornoch
Jamie Duncan, Argyll Cruising, Dunoon
John McNulty, Taynuilt Hotel, Argyll
Rachael Gavan, Wilderness Scotland, Aviemore

Innovation in Tourism Award
WOW Scotland Tours, Inverness
Mull Eagle Watch
Isle of Mull Cottages

Most Hospitable B&B or Guest House
Lochshore House B&B, Skye
The Grange, Fort William
Old Drynie House B&B, North Kessock
Glenegedale House, Islay

Most Hospitable Hotel
Inver Lodge House, Lochinver
Kinloch Lodge,Skye
The Pierhouse Hotel, Port Appin, Argyll

Tourism and Hospitality Hero
Emma Clark, Glenegedale House, Islay
Gordon Pearson, WOW Scotland Tours, Inverness
Andrew Jones, Highland Experience Tours, Inverness

Working Together for Tourism
The Shetland Times Ltd
Scotland's Best B&Bs, Nairn
Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative Ltd
Scotland's Heritage

There is no shortlist in the Highland Ambassador category. The winner will be announced on the night