The Highlands and Islands-wide quest to honour the area’s most successful tourism businesses, initiatives and individuals is on target for a nail-biting finale as the shortlist for the 2007 Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards is announced.
The awards scheme recognises industry players at the top of their game across a range of distinct categories, each designed to reflect the high quality, diversity and creativity synonymous with tourism today in the Highlands and Islands.
This year there are 12 awards up for grabs and 33 shortlisted nominees fighting for the ultimate accolade of a prestigious Highlands and Islands Tourism Award.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony and dinner at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on Friday, 16th November.
Shortlisted winners represent a wide cross-section of the regions around the Highlands and Islands, including entries ranging from Strathspey to Skye and from Sutherland to Shetland.
The Old Forge at Knoydart has made it to the shortlist in three different categories – Best Visitor Experience, Marketing Initiative and Highland Dining Out Experience.
Bogbain Farm, Inverness has been shortlisted in the New Business Tourism category, and faces stiff competition from Tigh Dearg Hotel on the Isle of North Uist, The Castle and Gardens of Mey in Thurso and walkhighlands.co.uk on the Isle of Skye.
A range of businesses are in the running for the Community Tourism Award:
- Invergordon Tourism Alliance,
- Who Cares Wins on the Isle of Lewis
- and Lochaber Centre for Tourism Excellence;
The Highland 2007 Award sees:
Feis an Eilean 2007,
Cromarty 2007 – Sea Cromarty Sparkle
and Adventure Racing World Championships 2007 competing as finalists.
People as well as businesses are recognised in the awards and four promising young tourism professionals are finalists in the Highland Young Ambassador of the Year Award, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland.:
- Grant MacNicol of Dornoch Castle Hotel,
- Rory Cameron and Daniel Campbell, both of the Clansman Hotel, Loch Ness-side
- and Katy Maclelland of The Three Chimneys on Skye
The award for Investing in the Environment and Highland Ambassador of the Year will be announced and presented at the event.
For more information please visit: www.highland-tourism-awards.co.uk
