Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards – Entries are now open
Entries are now open for the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards 2019!
Tourism operators across the region are encouraged to seize the opportunity for business recognition at the 2019 Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards (HITA).
The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards consist of 15 categories including Best Self-Catering Accommodation Experience, Most Hospitable B&B/ Guest House, Best Hotel Experience, Best Cultural Event or Festival, Best Restaurant Experience, Best Informal Eating Experience, Best Outdoor/ Adventure Experience, Best Visitor Attraction, Best Bar/ Pub, Innovation in Tourism, Working Together For Tourism, Best Heritage Tourism Experience, Highland Ambassador, Tourism & Hospitality Hero and Highland Rising Star.
Laurence Young, HITA Chair, and the board have been actively encouraging more businesses to get involved and said “to win a HITA Award is such a prestigious accolade to achieve and the application doesn’t have to be tough and time consuming”.
“I have no doubt that entrants in this year’s tourism awards will continue to show how tourism operators in the Highlands and Islands are continuing to raise the bar on the quality of the visitor experience”.
This year, the HITA Board have launched a Mentors Group – a team of past winners and judges who can offer practical advice and guidance to potential applicants. They will listen to ideas and help businesses recognise the true value of the application, the things that ought to be included and things that can be missed out.
Board Member, Liz Mackintosh, said, ‘We have amazing businesses in the Highlands and Islands, spectacular scenery and local produce. They all deserve recognition. It’s good to see hidden gems flourish after winning an award.’
The tourism industry in Scotland is booming with 3.4 million overseas tourists visiting in 2018 and spending an estimated £2.4 billion during their stay on Scottish social. It’s not surprising when the Highlands and Islands are listed among the top ten places in the world to visit in 2019 by Lonely Planet and Scotland was voted ‘the most beautiful country in the world’ by Rough Guides 2019 readers.
Deadline for nomination categories – Highland Ambassador, Highland Rising Star and Tourism & Hospitality Hero – 3rd June. Deadline for all other award category is the 24th June. HITA winners in select categories are put through to the finals of the national Scottish Thistle Awards in March 2020.
For more information and to download the application form, please visit highland-tourism-awards.co.uk/
