Press release -
Thistle Be Our Regional Stars
Tourism talent in the west of Scotland has been recognised in the country’s most prestigious tourism awards.
A total of 13 tourism businesses struck gold at the Scottish Thistle Awards regional finals for the West, which took place last night (Thursday 29 November) at Oran Mor in Glasgow.
The Scottish Thistle Awards are Scotland’s premier awards for the tourism industry. They celebrate success, innovation, excellence and best practice in Scotland’s tourism and hospitality industry.
They also offer the opportunity to recognise those people who have made valuable contributions to the sector across the country.
2018 saw more than 640 entries submitted, including well over a thousand nominations from members of the public keen to recognise hotels, restaurants, B&Bs, visitor attractions and individuals who go the extra mile to provide customers with exceptional service.
Winners included: Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum won the Scotrail Best Visitor Attraction, Trump Turnberry, A luxury Collection Resort was named The Fishers – Most Hospitable Hotel. Celtic Connections Festival won the Best Cultural Event or Festival, sponsored by Kinrara Distillery, with Sweeney’s Cruise Co being named the Best Outdoor/ Adventure Experience and the Carraig Mhoron the Isle of Arran was named Criton – Most Hospitable B&B/ Guest House. Knockderry House received the Caledonian MacBrayne Best Eating Experience award and East Cambusmoon Holiday Cottage was named Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers – Best Self Catering Accommodation Experience. Eastriggs and Gretna Heritage, The Devil’s Porridge Museum in Dumfries & Galloway received the Historic Environment Scotland – Best Heritage Tourism Experience award, and Wigtown Festival Company received the Geotourist – Innovation in Tourism award.
The Clachan Inn in St John’s Town of Dalry was named as the region’s Best Bar/Pub, sponsored by J Thomson Colour Printers.
Sail Scotland was presented with the Edinburgh Airport Working Together for Tourism Award for their #LegendarySailing campaign.
Jules Matteoni, Operations Director at Prestwick Airport was named the region’s Tourism & Hospitality Hero. The Johnstons of Elgin Regional Ambassador award went to Romano Petrucci, of Stranraer Development Trust.
The winners of the regional finals will now go on to fly the flag for the west, at the glittering national final of the Scottish Thistle Awards at the EICC in Edinburgh next March.
Rebecca Brooks, chair of the Scottish Thistle Awards Industry Panel and VisitScotland Board member, said: “On behalf of the panel, I’d like to congratulate all our regional winners. They are a credit to themselves, their local area and the entire Scottish tourism sector.
“Tourism is more than a holiday experience, it creates jobs and sustains communities. These awards let us recognise the unsung heroes of our industry who show real dedication and enthusiasm for Scotland’s tourism industry.
“I would like to wish all our regional winners the very best for the next stage of the competition.”
A total of five regional ceremonies will unveil which regional winners will compete in the national finals. Regional ceremonies have already taken place for the Highlands & Islands, which was organised by the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards. The Aberdeen City and Shire Regional Final, organised by Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards, and the Scottish Thistle Award Regional Final for the Lothians and Borders and Central, Fife & Tayside.
For more information, visit www.scottishthistleawards.co.uk
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- scottish thistle awards
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by five overarching strategies: Marketing, Events, Quality and Sustainability, Inclusive Tourism, International Engagement.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
2018 Year of Young People
- A global first, YoYP 2018 is a part of the Scottish Government’s themed-year programme which focuses on celebrating Scotland’s greatest assets.
- A year-long programme of events and festivals are taking place across the whole of the country for all ages to enjoy, led by EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate. More information at www.visitscotland.com/yoyp2018
- Local authorities, schools, youth groups and organisations are running their own YoYP 2018 activity. Search #YOYP2018 on Twitter for the latest news.
- Young people co-designed the Year. A group of young leaders, Communic18, lead on all key decision making. More than 380 Ambassadors based are championing activity.
- The Year is delivered in partnership between the Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland - part of the VisitScotland Events Directorate, Young Scot, Scottish Youth Parliament, Children in Scotland, YouthLink Scotland and Creative Scotland.
- More information can be found at yoyp2018.scot, searching @YOYP2018 #YOYP2018 on Twitter or by emailing yoyp2018@gov.scot
