Ross interest as Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards 2019 shortlist revealed
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Tourism businesses across the Highlands and Islands are celebrating after being shortlisted in a prestigious awards event.
More than 40 firms and individuals operating in the sector are in line for a prize at the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards (HITA) after judges whittled down hundreds of entries to create shortlists in categories ranging from best informal eating experience to innovation in tourism.
HITA chairman Laurence Young said: “With the glittering awards night for the prestigious Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards racing towards us, the announcement of the shortlist lifts the excitement quite a few notches higher.
“There was an awesome number of applications this year and this field has now come down to three – or in some cases four – shortlisted businesses across the main awards.
“With such stiff competition, each of those shortlisted has done so well to get selected and the board of the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards pass on their congratulations to each of them.”
At the awards, two Inverness bars will go head to head against a Skye pub in the best bar/pub category, with MacGregor’s Bar and The Malt Room facing stiff competition from the Sligachan Hotel.
Moray firm Johnstons of Elgin is shortlisted in two categories, best heritage tourism experience and best visitor attraction, while Links House at Royal Dornoch is up against Wick’s Mackays Hotel and the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness for best hotel experience.
In Ross-shire, Gairloch Canoe and Kayak Centre is in line for the best outdoor/adventure experience alongside Caledonian Discovery and Seaflower Skye.
Mr Young added: “The awards process is driven by independent, volunteer judges from across tourism businesses in the Highlands. These hard-working individuals deserve their own award for assessing all those applications and determining the shortlist in such a keenly fought battle!”
The winners across 14 categories will be announced at the Macdonald Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on Friday, November 1, when the Highland ambassador will also be revealed.
HITA winners in select categories are put through to the finals of the national Scottish Thistle Awards in March 2020.
The 2019 shortlist in full
Best bar/pub
MacGregor’s Bar
Sligachan Hotel
The Malt Room
Best cultural event
Cowal Highland Gathering
HebCelt Festival
Tiree Music Festival
Best heritage tourism experience
Highland Malt Whisky Experience
Johnstons of Elgin
WOW Scotland Tours
Best hotel experience
Kingsmills Hotel
Links House at Royal Dornoch
Mackays Hotel
Best informal eating experience
Café One One Two
Coll Hotel
The Redshank Catering Company
Best outdoor/adventure experience
Caledonian Discovery
Gairloch Canoe and Kayak Centre
Seaflower Skye
Best restaurant experience
Etive Restaurant
Links House at Royal Dornoch
The Pierhouse Hotel
Best self-catering accommodation
Aspen Lodge
Eagle Brae
Craigellachie House (Handpicked Lodges)
The Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage
Best visitor attraction
Isle of Raasay Distillery
Johnstons of Elgin
The Highlanders’ Museum
Highland ambassador
Announced on the evening
Highland rising star
Catriona McIntosh, Culloden Battlefield
Christina Smith, Ness Walk Hotel
Jordan Clark, Pennygate Lodge
Innovation in tourism
Argyll & The Isles Tourism Cooperative
Chalmersquoy Accommodation
Mull Aquarium
The Majestic Line
Most hospitable B&B/guest house
Button-Ben Guest House
Glenegedale House
The Spey B&B
Tourism and hospitality hero
Abbie Ewart, Portavadie Loch Fyne
Calum Mackenzie, Calum’s Seal Trips
James Ryan, Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre
Siobhan Beatson, Ullapool Museum
Working together for tourism
Destination Orkney
Outer Hebrides Tourism
Skye Connect Ltd
