Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards (HITA) 2022 winners announced

The region's leading awards ceremony for businesses in the tourist sector took place in Inverness last night.

At a glittering event held in the Kingsmills Hotel a total of 15 winners were announced, with a number of businesses also being highly commended.

This year's awards, sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland, attracted a record number of entries, delighting and impressing judges after such a challenging two years for the sector.

HITA 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!

"Also to enjoy the energy of so many of our leading tourism and hospitality businesses together – our Highlands and Islands 'titans', eager to see who was to win the finalist accolade in each category.

"The judges were really challenged this year: so many applications and such a strong field of passionate and committed businesses.

"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."

Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards (HITA) 2022 winners

Best bar/ pub: MacGregor's Bars

Best B&B/ guest house experience: Tigh Na Mara Guest House

Best eatery experience: Coll Hotel; highly commended – No.88 Ltd

Best hotel experience (under 20 rooms): Coll Hotel

Best hotel experience (over 20 rooms): Mackays Hotel

Best outdoor or adventure experience: In Your Element

Best self catering accommodation experience: Knoydart Hide

Best visitor attraction experience: Shetland Seabird tours – The Noss Boat; highly commended – Highland Wildlife Park

Food tourism award: Beinn an Tuirc Distillers Ltd

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

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