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