The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards on Friday, 24th November was an evening of glamour, glitz and style as tourism businesses and operators from around the region arrived in Inverness for a nail-biting finale to honour the best in the industry.
350 representatives from the region’s top tourism, hospitality, leisure and travel businesses gathered for a red carpet, movie-themed gala event to discover who had won the most prestigious hospitality and tourism industry awards which could help raise their profile across the industry.
This year’s awards incorporated entries, and winners, from the Islands for the first time, as well as throughout the Highlands, and a new brand image was introduced to signify the change, featuring an iconic lone piper set in an atmospheric Highland landscape. It was fitting therefore that the RAF Kinloss Pipe Band welcomed guests to the evening’s proceedings, which were presided over by STV’s Steven Jardine.
Attendees at the event were treated to spectacular lighting effects and a short film showcasing the Highlands and Islands as a great place to visit, produced by AVC Media and sponsored by Scottish Natural Heritage. Entertainment was by Inverness’s Bruce MacGregor and Friends, an outstanding and creative menu featuring some of Scotland’s finest and freshest local produce was prepared by three of last year’s award-winning chefs and the Drumossie’s Executive Chef Graeme Singer, and Alex Norton, aka Taggart’s DCI Burke, was on hand to present the winners with their awards.
Summarising this year’s event, Scott Armstrong, Area Director at VisitScotland Highlands said, “VisitScotland is delighted that the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards recognize those who work very hard to provide our visitors with the very best possible experiences. The awards provide an excellent platform to showcase the very best of the Highlands and Islands tourism industry, and help keep the Highlands and Islands positioned as one of the world’s top tourist destinations”.
The full list of Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards winners is:
NEW TOURISM BUSINESS: sponsored by Caledonian MacBrayne
The Outdoor Capital of the UK, Fort William
FILM FRIENDLY LOCATION: sponsored by Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission
The Cairngorm Sleddog Centre, Rothiemurchus
MARKETING INITIATIVE: sponsored by Historic Scotland
Aviemore, Badenoch, Strathspey and the Cairngorms Marketing Ltd, Aviemore
WORKING TOGETHER FOR TOURISM: Sponsored by The Highland Council
Culag Community Woodland Trust, Lochinver
TOURISM PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT: Sponsored by UKAEA
Jacobite – Experience Loch Ness
CUSTOMER CARE: Sponsored by VisitScotland
Blue Reef Cottages
CEUD MILE FAILTE: Sponsored by Bord na Gaidhlig
Feis Air An Oir, Bettyhill
INNOVATION: Sponsored by British Waterways (Scotland)
Clearwater Paddling, Barra
HIGHLAND DINING OUT EXPERIENCE: Sponsored by Good Highland Food
The Captain’s Galley, Scrabster
GREEN HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS (COMMUNITY AWARD): Sponsored by Scottish Natural Heritage
Foula Heritage, Shetland
GREEN HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS (BUSINESS AWARD): Sponsored by Scottish Natural Heritage
Evergreen B&B, Inverfarigaig
MEDIA AWARD: Sponsored by VisitBritain
Cristina Gambara & Sandro Vannini, Italy
HIGHLAND AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by Jacobite – Experience Loch Ness
Hamish Swan, Aviemore
HIGHLAND YOUNG AMBASSADOR OF THE YEAR: Sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland
Sarah MacKay, Inverness
