A hotel on the Isle of Skye has been crowned the best in Scotland and an Inverness business owner awarded for her pivotal role in tourism, at Scottish tourism’s equivalent of the Oscars.
Kinloch Lodge Hotel and Restaurant picked up the honours for “most hospitable hotel” at the Scottish Thistle Awards final in Edinburgh.
Freda Newton, owner and managing director of Loch Ness by Jacobite, was awarded the Caledonian MacBrayne Silver Thistle Award by Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop.
The prize was for her “pivotal role in the region’s tourism industry” including her work as an ambassador for Scotland on international business trips and was described as “an inspirational role model to women” and “mentor to young entrepreneurs.”
The glittering ceremony, held during Scottish Tourism Week, was at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre and hosted by TV presenter Dougie Vipond and former Miss Scotland, Jennifer Reoch.
Isabella Macdonald, owner of Kinloch Lodge Hotel and Restaurant, said: “It’s been another amazing year for us.
“We retained our Michelin star for a seventh year and now our entire team performance has also been rewarded.”
A total of 14 awards were handed out on the night including Caledonian MacBrayne Best Cultural Event or Festival, J Thomson Colour Printers Best Restaurant Experience, ScotRail Best Visitor Attraction and Braehead Foods Tourism & Hospitality Hero.
Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Scotland’s tourism businesses and their 217,000 jobs work incredibly hard to make our country a must-visit destination, and ensure visitors are assured of a warm welcome.”
Scott Armstrong, Regional Director at VisitScotland, said: “Tourism is more than a holiday experience. It creates jobs and sustains communities across the Highlands and all finalists should be proud of their achievements in reaching this stage.”
