Scottish Thistle Awards Open For Entries

21st November 2011

Does your business pride itself on impeccable customer care, outstanding visitor experiences or brilliant creative campaigns? If the answer is yes, then it's time for you to enter the Scottish Thistle Awards.

The Scottish Thistle Awards, which are run by VisitScotland, celebrate excellence and quality within the tourism industry. Now in their 20th year, they have undergone a major transformation and after extensive industry research, the awards have changed to include four new regional awards and a revamped national awards ceremony.

The four regional award areas are: Highlands and Islands, North East, South/Central East, South/Central West with the winners of each progressing to represent their region at the final awards ceremony.

The regional Scottish Thistle Award celebrations will take place between April and May 2012 and the final, National Awards event will be in November 2012.

In the Highlands and Islands region, The Scottish Thistle Awards team is working with the already successful Highlands and Island's Tourism Awards (HITA). HITA will launch and manage the Scottish Thistle Awards for the Highlands and Island's area from November 2011, announcing their winners in spring 2012.

Marina Huggett, Chair of the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards said; "The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards are delighted to be partnering with the Scottish Thistle Awards. The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards will continue to grow and develop, and our Annual Award Ceremony will be our high-profile, unique celebration of accomplishment in tourism in the Highlands."

The awards are open to all businesses, either based in Scotland or who have a Scottish product which has an association with Scottish tourism. Visit www.scottishthistleawards.co.uk.

There are 12 categories to choose from and businesses can enter as many categories as are applicable to their individual achievements. Entries opened this week until 2 March 2012.

The new categories are:
• Best Hotel Award
• Best Guest House or B&B Award
• Best Self Serve Accommodation Award
• Best Café, Bar or Restaurant Award
• Best Visitor Attraction Award
• Best Cultural Event Award
• Best Sporting Event Award
• Best Shopping Experience Award
• Best Nature Based Experience Award
• Training and Skills Development Award
• Tourism Entrepreneur Award
• Marketing Campaign of the Year Award

Following the regional events in spring, the national shortlist will be announced in August 2012 with the overall winners announced at the final ceremony in November 2012, with each of the regional finalists vying for the national title in each category.

To enter or find out more please go to www.scottishthistleawards.co.uk.
For Highlands and Islands businesses there is a dedicated website, please visit www.highland-tourism-awards.co.uk.