Award Categories
Year of Natural Scotland - Best Nature Based Experience Award
Nature based tourism is a key part of the tourism sector worth nearly 40% of all tourism spending. The main activities that make up nature based tourism are wildlife watching, enjoying the landscape, walking, adventure activities and field sports. This category celebrates the finest example of businesses that are utilising our natural assets and turning them into authentic quality experiences.
Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland are proud to sponsor this category. Visitors rate landscapes and scenery as the main reason for holidaying in Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage, along with partners helps ensure that Scotland has an attractive, high quality environment for visitors to enjoy and the tourism industry to grow. 2013 is the Year of Natural Scotland and responsible, nature based tourism development will help safeguard these assets which set us apart from other places. Forestry Commission Scotland manages Scotland's national forest estate. With land in most areas of Scotland, this includes looking after dramatic landscapes, stunning nature and wildlife in the wildest regions of the country and also increasingly bringing woodlands nearer to more urban populations. Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland are proud to celebrate the achievements of those many businesses which responsibly showcase the best of Scotland.This category celebrates the finest examples of Scotland's renowned reputation for exemplary service and experience to the visitor.
Who should enter:
Businesses large and small that are directly involved in providing a visitor experience which engages with and showcases Scotland's nature and environment. This category is appropriate to any business that offers their customers an experience of wildlife watching, enjoying the landscapes, walking, adventure activities or field sport. The nature based tourism element is not required to be the core business.
What the judges are looking for:
Evidence of how the natural environment adds value to your business and a demonstration of how growth is generated through an innovative approach to nature tourism. A close understanding of environmental impacts and how the business is sympathetic to Scotland's natural assets.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Sponsored by:
Best Café, Bar or Restaurant Award
This category celebrates the finest examples of Scotland's renowned reputation for exemplary service and experience to the visitor. For any bar, café or restaurant that can demonstrate exemplary levels of customer service and satisfaction
Who should enter:
This category is open to bars, cafés or restaurants of all sizes.
What the judges are looking for:
A clear strategy, a proven track record of exceptional customer care and innovative approach to delivering an excellent experience. Evidence that provides both qualitative and quantitative measures.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Best Cultural Event Award
Events are extremely important to the tourism industry in Scotland. Successful events attract large volumes of visitors, generate significant economic and media profile, and inspire and involve local communities. This category is open to cultural events that take place at a national and international level across Scotland.
Who should enter:
Organisers of new or established local, regional or international cultural event of any size. Please note that you are applying for a specific iteration of the event and as such the event must have taken place within the last 12 months and outcomes should be known at the time of submission.
What the judges are looking for:
Cultural events that attract international or national audiences and can show evidence of media attention, local collaborations and benefits to Scotland's tourism economy.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Sponsored by:
Best Guest House or Bed & Breakfast Award
As a service industry provider, this award recognises that excellence in service, customer care and making a stay a memorable experience to the visitor are core business objectives. To meet increasing customer demands and be competitive we need to work more effectively and continue to achieving customers expectations.
This category celebrates the finest examples of Scotland's renowned reputation for exemplary service and experience to the visitor.
Who should enter:
Guest Houses and B&Bs that demonstrate exemplary levels of customer service and satisfaction.
What the judges are looking for:
A clear strategy, a proven track record and evidence of exceptional customer care. Evidence that provide both qualitative and quantitative measures.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Best Hotel Award
The accommodation sector is intrinsic to tourism. Representing the largest sector of tourism by spend, the hotel experience is a key contributor to many visitors lasting impressions of Scotland. This award recognises the pursuit of excellence in customer service, care and creating a memorable experience. This category celebrates the finest examples of Scotland?s renowned reputation for exemplary service and experience to the visitor.
Who should enter:
For hotels that demonstrate exemplary levels of customer service and satisfaction.
What the judges are looking for:
A clear strategy, a proven track record and evidence of exceptional customer care. Evidence that provide both qualitative and quantitative measures.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Best Self Serve Accommodation Award
The self-serve sector covers a wide variety of customer expectations and requirements designed to allow the customer to tailor their stay around their needs. Serviced apartments, hostels, camping facilities etc provide very different experiences, but what unites them is the commitment of the accommodation providers to offer a level of comfort and access to facilities to match the aspirations of their customers.
This category celebrates the finest examples of Scotland's renowned reputation for exemplary service and experience to the visitor.
Who should enter:
For Self Serve Accommodation providers - those who operate businesses ranging from camping, caravanning, chalet, apartments that demonstrate exemplary levels of customer service and satisfaction.
What the judges are looking for:
A clear strategy, a proven track record and evidence of exceptional customer care. Evidence that provide both qualitative and quantitative measures.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Best Shopping Experience Award
Tourism and shopping are synonymous and yet the connection is implicit. Visitors are naturally keen to purchase a memento of their holiday - however beyond this is a more common behaviour by holiday makers to visit a variety of retailers from grocers to textile companies. As such, retailers from all sectors often represent the customer service face of Scottish Tourism and as such are more important to tourism than is often considered.
This Scottish Thistle Award recognises our retailing heroes who are contributing such a great deal to the experience of our domestic and international visitors.
Who should enter:
For retail businesses that demonstrate exemplary levels of customer service and satisfaction. Who recognise the value of the tourist £ and make particular efforts to maximize the business benefits; go the extra mile to provide an innovative retail experience to their visiting customers while providing friendly accessible facilities.
Any retail business in Scotland who has visitors, from home or abroad, as a significant part of their customer profile. Businesses of all sizes and across the length and breadth of Scotland: From high street retailers, department stores and specialty shops to small rural businesses, mill shops and visitor attraction or accommodation retail outlets. Mill shops and visitor attractions or accommodation retail outlets
What the judges are looking for:
Evidence of recognition of the value of the tourist £. Innovation in creating a welcoming experience with focus on provision of customer care for domestic and international visitors. Understanding of our visitor?s expectations and how these expectations are exceeded. Demonstrate an understanding of sustainability and how it is implemented. Any links with destination and/or Scottish manufacturers if appropriate to the business. How the business is successfully marketed to our visitors.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Best Sporting Event Award
Events are extremely important to the tourism industry in Scotland. Successful events attract large volumes of visitors, generate significant economic and media profile, and inspire and involve local communities. This category is open to sporting events that take place at a national and/or international level across Scotland.
Who should enter:
Organisers of new or established local, regional or international sporting event of any size. Please note that you are applying for a specific iteration of the event and as such the event must have taken place within 12 months and outcomes should be known at the time of submission.
What the judges are looking for:
Sporting events that attract international or national audiences and can show evidence of media attention, local collaborations and benefits to Scotland?s tourism economy.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Best Tour Operator Programme of the Year Award
Touring Scotland is an important element of the Scottish Tourism experience. This vibrant sector of the tourism industry brings visitors to all corners of the country to experience our attractions, culture and dramatic scenery.
This category seeks to reward those innovative operators who offer excellent customer service, unique experiences and collaborative working practices for visitors to Scotland.
Who should enter:
This category is open to any operator type that organise tours for groups small or large in any area of Scotland.
What the judges are looking for:
Innovative approaches to catering for customer's needs, providing excellent customer service and demonstrable attention to exceeding visitor expectations.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Best Visitor Attraction Award
Visitor attractions are a vital contributor to Scottish tourism drawing visitors from both national and international markets. Attractions provide memorable experiences for visitors through their commitment to delivering high quality, innovative and sustainable world class experiences.
Who should enter:
For Visitor Attractions that demonstrate exemplary levels of customer service and satisfaction. This category is open to visitor attractions of all kinds and sizes.
What the judges are looking for:
Judges are looking for businesses that have delivered something exceptional over the last year offering exceptional customer service.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Historic Scotland - Tourism Entrepreneur Award
The spirit of entrepreneurship abounds in Scottish tourism. As an industry populated predominantly by SME's, it is the determination and vision of individuals to see an opportunity and create a market that drives innovation forward and maintains Scotland as a world class destination.
Historic Scotland embraces the spirit of entrepreneurship; through their innovative approach, marketing historic properties to supporting businesses that see modern opportunities in our nation's history. Historic Scotland is proud to support the energy and drive of Scotland's tourism entrepreneurs.
Who should enter:
This category is open to businesses who have vision and who are driven to innovate, demonstrating consistently that they are prepared to take risks in order to excel.
What the judges are looking for:
A dynamic business with a track record in creating new products and services; harnessing an understanding of their customers to develop truly exciting and innovative enterprises.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Sponsored by:
Marketing Campaign of the Year Award
Successful marketing campaigns will both excite and inform visitors. Marketing encompasses a variety of skills and techniques but is founded on clear objectives; an imaginative approach and detailed analysis of the results.
Marketing is at the heart of every business trying to reach an audience. Success is not guaranteed by money; enthusiasm for the product and a drive to understand your customer and their needs is of paramount importance. This category celebrates individual or team excellence within the discipline of marketing. The category is open to any organisation who wants to recognise the contribution of their people to the success of their business through marketing excellence.
Who should enter:
Any tourism business who can demonstrate a clear marketing objective to attract visitors matched by deliverable success, recognising the creative talents and hard work of an individual or team.
What the judges are looking for:
Clear evidence that a marketing strategy was conceived, managed and delivered with tangible results.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
The campaign must have commenced within the last two years, up to end 2012, and have completed with tangible results. The campaign cannot have been the focus of a previous regional/national Scottish Thistle Award application.
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Partnership in Tourism Award
Partnership working is an excellent way to develop new products and services and deliver effective marketing campaigns across geographic areas and sectors. Collaborative arrangements are becoming more widespread across Scotland and this category seeks to recognise innovation by those partnerships.
Who should enter:
Whether you're an Association, a sector specific group, a group that has come together to optimise the opportunities of the Year of Creative Scotland, or a fully constituted destination or sector specific organisation, this is the category for you. Projects and initiatives should be able to demonstrate that they work with and for businesses in their area or sector.
What the judges are looking for:
A clear objective for forming the partnership and demonstrable evidence of its aims and objectives and how they were achieved and exceeded. The period of results in the submission should be 2012.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
Training and Skills Development Award
Businesses demonstrating training and skills development are providing commitment to investment in skills to Scotland. It celebrates individuals and teams which demonstrate outstanding personal and business success through investment in training and skills development. Open to tourism and hospitality businesses in Scotland that could demonstrate the tangible benefits they have achieved as a result of genuinely effective training and skills development and being recognised for their innovative approach to workplace development challenges. Evidence of company culture and clearly defined structures that encourage staff training and support staff in their own personal developments is a benefit of the business as a whole.
Who should enter:
This category celebrates people development and individual or team excellence within specific disciplines. The category is open to any organisation who wants to recognise the contribution of their people to the success of their business and the professional standards of training and skills development to which they adhere.
What the judges are looking for:
Businesses that can demonstrate success through effective leadership, training and skills development.
NB each question should be answered in no more than 400 words
Entries for 2013 are now closed
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