The Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards finalists have been revealed for 2022.
Luxury hotels, a city distillery, eco lodges, an organic dairy and a festival of lights are among the 39 businesses and individuals vying to scoop one of the awards and take their place in the national Scottish Thistle Awards finalists’ line up.
Full shortlist of nominees
Best bar or pub
The Tippling House – Aberdeen, Titan Sky Bar – Meldrum House Hotel, Grape and Grain – Aberdeen
Best hotel experience (under 20 rooms)
Douneside House by Tarland, Saplinbrae Hotel – Mintlaw
Best hotel experience (over 20 rooms)
Banchory Lodge, The Chester Hotel, Maryculter House
Food tourism award
Bothies and Bannocks – Aboyne, Signature Food Festival at the Chester Hotel, City of Aberdeen Distillery and Gin Tour
Best eatery experience
Kirkview Café – Aberdeen, Forest Farm – Kinellar, Davron Hotel – Rosehearty, Seafood Bothy – Stonehaven
Best outdoor/adventure experience
Wild Discovery – Crathie, EGuide Scotland – Aboyne, Farm Stop – Portlethen
Best self-catering accommodation experience
Down on the Farm – Rosehearty, Cairngorm Lodges and Bothies – Logie Coldstone, Wildflower Eco Lodges – Lonmay
Best visitor attraction experience
MacDuff Marine Aquarium, Aberdeen Art Gallery, Aberdeen Science Centre
Most hospitable B&B or guest house
Lys-na-Greyne – Aboyne, No. 45 – Ballater, Gordon Guest House – Ballater
Outstanding cultural event or festival
Aberdeen Jazz Festival, Treeeline, Spectra – Aberdeen
Regional ambassador
Allan Henderson – the McGintys Group , Stephen Gow, – the Chester Hotel, David Griffiths – Aberdam
Tourism and hospitality hero
Alex Robertson – Aberdeen City Council , Beata Winiearska – Forest Farm, Marta Skowron – TECA
Working together for tourism
Cairngorm Lodges – Logie Coldstone, Dee Tour – Royal Deeside, Wild Discovery – Crathie
The awards return after an enforced two-year break due to Covid-19, during which the tourism and hospitality businesses were amongst the hardest hit of all business sectors.
Awards chairman Stephen Gow said: “It’s extremely uplifting that despite tourism businesses facing significant challenges with post-Covid recovery, the 2022 awards have seen one of their most successful years in terms of number of entries.
“The shortlist of nominees shows the diverse richness of our local tourism product and it’s great to see businesses of all sizes entering the awards and reaching the finals.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony and gala dinner at the Chester Hotel in Aberdeen on November 11.
Conversation