TWELVE tourism businesses are amongst the finalists of the Scottish Thistle Awards which take place in Edinburgh on Thursday 9 February.
The businesses are all Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards (ACSTA) winners who were honoured at a ceremony in Aberdeen in November. They will represent the region and vie for the prestigious national titles at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
The finalists are:
| Best B&B or Guest House Experience | Lys-na-Greyne in Aboyne |
| Best B&B or Guest House Experience | Douneside House by Tarland |
| Best B&B or Guest House Experience | Kirk View in Aberdeen |
| Working Together for Tourism | Cairngorm Lodges and Bothies |
| Best S/C Accommodation Experience | Down on the Farm by Fraserburgh |
| Tourism and Hospitality Hero | Marta Skowron-Thielun of Hilton TECA |
| Best Hotel Experience (over 20 rooms) | Maryculter House Hotel |
| Best Bar or Pub | Titan Sky Bar at Meldrum House Hotel |
| Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival | Aberdeen Jazz Festival |
| Best Outdoor or Adventure Activity | Wild Discovery |
| Food Tourism Award | City of Aberdeen Distillery & Gin School |
| Best Visitor Attraction Experience | Macduff Marine Aquarium |
Stephen Gow, chairman of Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards, who will be attending the Thistle awards with the ACSTA committee, said: “Each of the north east finalists has already been awarded the regional title in their category as a business or individual striving to innovate and excite within the sector. Each demonstrated their tenacity and resilience in the face of pandemic adversity but, importantly, their optimistic, creative approach to the future and we’re wishing each of them the very best of luck in the national Thistle Awards.”
