FINALISTS READY TO DO BATTLE FOR HIGHLAND TOURISM AWARDS
The finalists in the prestigious Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards have been announced with more than 40 businesses and individuals shortlisted for honours.
The annual awards recognise and reward the best places to stay, eat, drink and enjoy the area’s sporting, historic and cultural events, as well as its nature and scenery.
Scottish music festivals will compete against a celebration of Asian arts and culture in one category, while hotels, guest houses, restaurants, small food outlets, heritage centres, wildlife spotting tours and others will also battle it out for the coveted piper trophies.
Leading the way is Argyll and the Isles, with 16 finalists, with 11 from Inverness/ Inverness-shire and four each from Strathspey and Skye. Sutherland, Ross-shire, Moray, Lochaber and the Outer Hebrides are also represented on the shortlist.
Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards (HITA) chairman Craig Ewan said: “Congratulations to all our finalists. Given the quality of the entries, the businesses and individuals who have made the shortlist can be really proud of their achievement.
“It was another extremely difficult task for the judges to narrow the entries to just 43 contenders and they have another huge challenge ahead in picking our eventual winners.
“The awards showcase the best of the tourism industry in the Highlands and Islands and also inspire operators to continue to raise standards and provide excellence at all times to our visitors.”
Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 2 November in the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, which will be attended by Fiona Hyslop, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The HITA awards scheme, which is being held in association with SSE for a sixth successive year, is regarded as one of the premier industry hospitality awards programmes in Scotland.
Some 163 businesses and individuals have entered or been nominated in 14 categories this year.
The awards scheme is free and is open to people operating in the Highland, Moray, Orkney, Shetland, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Argyll & Bute (excluding G postcode areas) local authority areas.
HITA winners (with the exception of the Highland Rising Star and Highland Ambassador) go on to compete at the glittering 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, Loch Ness by Jacobite, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Port of Cromarty Firth, Developing the Young Workforce, Royal Bank of Scotland, Scottish Provincial Press, Inverness Hotels Association, The Highland Council, the Federation of Small Businesses, J Thomson Colour Printers, Caledonian Sleeper, Fishers, Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and NorthLink Ferries.
The 2018 shortlist is –
Best Self-Catering/Alternative Accommodation Experience
Where Stags Roar, Newtonmore
Portavadie Loch Fyne, Argyll
Clan Cottages, Oban
Morag’s Lodge, Fort Augustus
Best Cultural Event or Festival
Oban Live
Isle of Jura Music Festival
Purvai Festival, Stornoway
Best Heritage Tourism Experience
The Highlanders Museum, Fort George, Inverness
Speyside Cooperage Visitor Centre, Craigellachie
Elgin Museum
Go to St Kilda, Skye
Best Eating Experience
The Seafood Shack, Ullapool
Toravaig House Hotel, Skye
Ninth Wave Restaurant, Mull
Best Outdoor/Adventure Experience
Glenlivet Hill Trek
St Hilda Sea Adventures, Oban
Basking Shark Scotland, Oban
Nature Scotland, Mull
Majestic Line, Argyll
Best Pub/Bar
MacGregor’s Bar, Inverness
Black Isle Bar and Rooms, Inverness
Castle Tavern, Inverness
Best Visitor Attraction
Johnstons of Elgin
Dolphin Spirt, Inverness
Cruise Loch Ness, Inverness
Innovation in Tourism
Portavadie Loch Fyne
Cruise Loch Ness
Inverness Taxis
Most Hospitable B&B / Guest House
Glenegedale House, Islay
Pool House, Achnasheen, Wester Ross
RossMor Guest House, Grantown
Most Hospitable Hotel
Uig Hotel Ltd, Skye
Skeabost Hotel, Skye
Links House at Royal Dornoch, Sutherland
Working Together for Tourism
Fort William Accommodation Marketing Group
Mull Eagle Watch
Argyll and the Isles Tourism Cooperative Ltd
Highland Rising Star
John McNulty, Taynuilt Hotel, Argyll
Euan Walker, Achnagairn Estate, Kirkhill, Inverness
Brian Sharp, Highland Experience Tours
Tourism and Hospitality Hero
Emma Clark, Glenegedale House, Islay
Alice Gill, Lodge on Loch Goil, Argyll
John Easson, Culloden Battlefield
Highland Ambassador
To be announced on the night