THE Highlands’ leading awards ceremony for businesses in the tourist sector has taken place in Inverness.
A total of 15 winners were announced at the event in the Kingsmills Hotel, with awards for the best bar/pub, the best hotel experience and the best self-catering accommodation.
A number of businesses were commended for the work they do with this year’s ceremony attracting a record number of entries.
Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards chairman Laurence Young said: “It was just so good to get back to the HITA awards ceremony again and all be in one glittering, star-filled ballroom after so long.
“The judges were really challenged this year: so many applications and such a strong field of passionate and committed businesses.”
The award for best bar/pub was awared to MacGregor's Bar in Inverness, while the best outdoor or adventure experience went to In Your Element which offers activities from axe-throwing to canoeing.
Sea bird tours in Sheltand were chosen as the best visitor attraction experience while Visit Inverness Loch Ness was rewarded for its commitment to tackling climate change.
Young added: "The award night is a fitting finale to the 2022 contest and the board of HITA send congratulations to all of the finalists and the winners; we will follow your journeys with great interest over the months ahead."
Below is a full list of all the winners:
- . Best Bar/Pub: MacGregor’s Bar (Inverness)
- . Best B&B Guest House Experience: Tigh Na Mara Guest House (Isle of Coll)
- . Best Hotel Experience: Coll Hotel (Isle of Coll)
- . Best Hotel Experience (under 20 rooms): Coll Hotel (Isle of Coll)
- . Best Hotel Experience (over 20 rooms): Mackays Hotel (Wick)
- . Best Outdoor or Adventure Experience: In Your Element
- . Best Self-Catering Acccommodation Experience: Knoydart Hide (Knoydart)
- . Best Visitor Attraction Experience: Shetland Seabird Tours – The Noss Boat; highly commended – Highland Wildlife Par
- . Food Tourism Award: Beinn an Tuirc Distillers Ltd (Capmbeltown)
- . Highland Ambassador: Ellie and Murray Lamont
- . Highland Rising Star: Dougal Cameron, The Lunchbox Boys; highly commended – Michael Bell, Loch Ness Cruises
- Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival: Fèis Ile, The Islay Festival; highly commended – Live at Five, MacGregor's Bars
- Royal Bank of Scotland Climate Champion: Visit Inverness Loch Ness
- Tourism and Hospitality Hero: Graham Rooney, Platform 1864
- Working Together for Tourism: Wild Skies Shetland
