Highlands and Islands Thistle Awards: Celebrating the best in the tourism industry for 17 years

The 17th Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards, which launches today, celebrates the best tourism businesses in the Highlands.

Highland businesses are known for their outstanding hospitality, and the Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards, which take place on October 4, are a chance for those businesses to shine.

Covering all the regions of the Highlands and Islands; from Argyll in the west, to Moray in the east, and Orkney and Shetland in the north, the annual Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards bring together industry leaders, rising stars, new enterprises and trusted names to celebrate achievements and recognise excellence in the sector.

The Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards (HITA) also feeds into the national Scottish Thistle Awards, where the crème de la crème across Scotland gather together once a year to celebrate the success of the industry.

Calum Ross, chairman of HITA, said: “The Highlands and Islands Thistle Awards champion the very best of the tourism and events industry, celebrating innovation, collaboration and sustainable practices and helping to support responsible growth.

“Whether it is quality food and drink, outstanding accommodation, thrilling adventure activities or friendly and welcoming faces, HITA celebrates all aspects of what makes the Highlands and Islands a fantastic place to visit.

“Every year we are hugely impressed by – and proud of – the high calibre of entries. Last year’s event sold out in record time which just goes to show how much the awards mean to everyone involved. We look forward to showcasing and celebrating the exceptional talent across our Highlands and Islands in 2024.”

You don’t need to have a tourism business to get involved – you can nominate your favourite experience or a business you feel deserves special recognition at this year’s Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards by visiting the website between March 1 and March 31.

Any business nominated will be contacted and encouraged to enter the awards.

HITA is once again being backed by Royal Bank of Scotland as the headline sponsor.

This year’s awards ceremony will be held at the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness on October 4, and will be another chance to shine a spotlight on the
region’s best tourism and hospitality businesses.

• Visit www.hita-awards.com where you can nominate, enter or find out more.

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