This year there are 11 awards up for grabs, and the 25 shortlisted nominees fighting for the ultimate accolade come from all over the area.

The awards scheme, which is one of the most coveted accolades in the industry and recognises tourism players at the top of their game, is designed to reflect the high quality, diversity and innovation synonymous with tourism today in the Highlands and Islands.

The 2009 winners will be announced at an award ceremony and dinner at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness on Friday, November 20.

The Lovat – an independent 28-bedroom hotel with an exceptional location overlooking Loch Ness in Fort Augustus which was refurbished in 2007 – and two of the hotel's staff have been shortlisted for a total of four awards – the Customer Care Award, Green Award, Leadership Award and Young Ambassador of the Year Award.

People as well as businesses are recognised in the awards and five outstanding tourism professionals have made it to the final stages. In addition to Caroline Gregory of The Lovat, Loch Ness, the other finalists for Young Ambassador of the Year are Christine Macdonald of Homagen B&B, Roy Bridge, and Simon Wallwork of Glenview Inn and Restaurant at Staffin on the Isle of Skye.

Joining Lesley Campbell, The Lovat's head housekeeper, on the shortlist for the Leadership Award is Craig Ewan of the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness and Sadie Dixon Spain of The Walking Theatre Company at Glendaruel.

Another of the hotly contested categories is for the Highland Dining Out Experience award where The Prince's House Hotel at Glenfinnan lines up against the Toravaig House Hotel on Skye, Muckrach Lodge Hotel at Dulnain Bridge and Craggan Mill Restaurant at Grantown-on-Spey.

The chair of the awards board, Elizabeth Mackintosh, said: "The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards are a fantastic focal point for our industry and give us an ideal opportunity to celebrate outstanding tourism businesses of the highest quality.

"The tourism industry in the Highlands and Islands has managed to maintain an energy and demonstrate creativity and innovation during difficult times."

The judging of each category was carried out by an independent panel of judges comprising senior industry representatives from throughout the area.

This year's finale will be attended by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond and will attract over 350 representatives from the region's top tourism, hospitality, leisure and travel businesses.

Entertainment will be provided by Inverness fiddle maestro Bruce MacGregor and band, and The Red Hot Chilli Pipers will bring their own unique style of blistering rock bagpipes and drums to the awards stage.

Scottish Provincial Press – publishers of the Highland News Group – is one of the awards sponsors along with Bord na Gaidhlig, Highland Council, Visit Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, British Waterways (Scotland), UK Atomic Energy Authority, Royal Bank of Scotland, Caledonian MacBrayne, Inverness College, Scottish Highlands and Islands Film Commission. The awards are supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

The Lovat in Fort Augustus, which has been nominated in four categories in the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards.

The full list of finalists is:

Best Visitor Experience – British Waterways Scotland, Inverness; Craggan Outdoors, Grantown-on-Spey; The Majestic Line, Dunoon.

Community Tourism Initiative – Auld Alliance Gourmet Academy, Kingussie; Castletown Heritage Society, Thurso; Dunollie, Oban.

Customer Care – Evergreen B&B, Inverfarigaig; Knockomie Hotel, Forres; The Lovat, Loch Ness.

Green Award – National Trust for Scotland, Culloden; The Crown Estate, Tomintoul; The Lovat, Loch Ness.

Highland Dining Out Experience – Craggan Mill Restaurant, Grantown-on-Spey; Toravaig House Hotel, Skye; Princes House Hotel, Glenfinnan; Muckrach Lodge Hotel, Dulnain Bridge.

Marketing Initiative – Duisdale House Hotel, Sleat, Skye; Hebridean Luxury Holidays, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis; Mackenzie & Cruickshank, Forres.

Most Entrepreneurial Business – Active Outdoor Pursuits, Newtonmore; Sonas Hospitality, Sleat, Isle of Skye; Walkhighlands.co.uk, Staffin, Isle of Skye.

Leadership Award – Caroline Gregory, The Lovat, Loch Ness; Craig Ewan, Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness; Sadie Dixon Spain, Dunans House, Glendaruel.

Developing People – To be announced on the evening.

Young Ambassador of the Year – Caroline Gregory, The Lovat, Loch Ness; Christine Macdonald, Homagen B&B, Roy Bridge; Simon Wallwork, Glenview Inn and Restaurant, Staffin, Isle of Skye.

Ambassador of the Year – To be announced on the evening.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this

---