Awards all set to showcase tourism's best
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards (HITA) are back for 2022!
As the sector emerges from the unprecedented turmoil of the pandemic, it is time to celebrate the resilience, innovation and perseverance of our tourism and hospitality businesses.
This year will be even more special with the addition of an exciting new award category: the climate champion award, sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland.
Three award categories recognise and acknowledge the best of Highland people, and the work tourism businesses are carrying out to tackle climate change:
- RBS climate champion
- Highland rising star
- Highland ambassador
There are 12 other award categories which recognise the high standards of excellence that are achieved throughout the industry:
- Best bar or pub
- Best hotel experience (under 20 rooms)
- Best hotel experience (over 20 rooms)
- Food tourism award
- Best eatery experience
- Best outdoor or adventure experience
- Best self-catering accommodation experience
- Best visitor attraction experience
- Best B&B or guest house experience
- Outstanding cultural event or festival
- Tourism and hospitality hero
- Working together for tourism
The winners of these categories will go forward to the national finals of VisitScotland’s Thistle Awards.
Since 2015, HITA winners have gone on to win multiple awards at a national level.
In addition, there are three other Thistle Award categories which businesses from across the Highlands and Islands can enter directly via VisitScotland:
- Outstanding sporting event
- Best business event
- Responsible tourism award
The Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards bring together industry leaders, sponsors and, most importantly, all of those shortlisted.
All will gather at the award-winning Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness for an evening of celebration and recognition on Friday, November 4, 2022.
It will be a night of fine dining showcasing the best of locally sourced ingredients, with speeches from inspiring figures and entertainment too.
Following two years of turmoil, the HITA Board is delighted to be in a position to launch the 2022 Awards.
Board member, Lorna MacLennan, said: “The pandemic has caused many casualties in the industry, however we have also witnessed amazing resilience and innovation.
“As the industry moves forward into the recovery phase, we have added a new category to the awards to reflect the changing landscape for tourism in the region.
“We are delighted to be working with our headline sponsors Royal Bank of Scotland on the climate champion award.
“The Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards gives us such a fantastic opportunity to celebrate not only the best of tourism, but also how the industry has adapted and evolved in the face of adversity.
“We chose Inverness Castle as the location for the launch as the redevelopment project is the perfect example of what can be achieved when stakeholders come together and recognise the benefits of investing in the tourism experience of the Highlands.”
Sponsoring this year’s awards and the sponsor of the new climate champion award is RBS. Ryan Fraser, RBS commercial director, said: “The Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards are one of the key events in Scotland’s awards calendar and once again, Royal Bank of Scotland is delighted to support a programme which celebrates those organisations and businesses championing a key sector for the country.
“As banking partner for COP26, we are excited to see the introduction this year of a new sustainability category. COP26 showcased the role Scotland can play in embracing the climate challenge and seeing the opportunities it can offer for forward-thinking entrepreneurs.
“The breadth of categories this year shows the diversity, role and reach tourism plays for the region and we wish every finalist the very best of luck.”
The Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards recognise, celebrate and promote the achievements of the people and businesses across the sector.
For 17 years, a volunteer board from across the industry and the area has delivered this industry-leading awards scheme.
READ MORE at Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards.
