Your chance to shine a light on leading Highland tourism businesses
Highland businesses are famous across the world for their renowned hospitality and this is your chance to help showcase the very best.
The 19th annual Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards celebrate the excellence of the tourism industry across the north of Scotland.
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 Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards (HITA) bring together industry leaders, rising stars, new enterprises and highly successful established businesses to celebrate their achievements and recognise excellence in the sector.
Now, as the 2025 awards are launched, the public are being asked to nominate the businesses and individuals who really stand out from the crowd. Which of them has gone beyond your expectations to ensure you had an exceptional experience?
The awards celebrate the very best in the industry, recognising innovation, customer service, sustainability, and overall excellence.
Businesses will be recognised in the following categories: Best Bar or Pub; Best B&B or Guest House Experience; Best Hotel Experience; Best Eating Experience; Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience; Best Self-Catering or Unique Stay; Best Visitor Attraction; Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative; Climate Action; Inclusion Award; Innovation Award; Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival; Employer of the Year. While the best people in the sector will be recognised in: Highland Individual of the Year; Highland Rising Star; and Highland Ambassador.
The Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards winners are entered into the national Scottish Thistle Awards, where the crème de la crème of the sector across Scotland gather together once a year to celebrate the success of the industry and to crown the national winners in all categories.
Calum Ross, chairman of HITA, said: “The Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards champion the leading lights 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. We can’t wait to hear about all the positive experiences people have had when this year’s nominations are received. We look forward to showcasing and celebrating the exceptional talent across our Highlands and Islands in 2025.”
You don’t need to be or 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 3 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 Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on October 3, and will be another chance to shine a spotlight on the region’s best tourism and hospitality businesses and individuals.
Visit www.hita-awards.com where you can nominate, enter or find out more.
