ENTRIES FOR THE 30TH SCOTTISH THISTLE AWARDS NOW OPEN

The search is on to find the best of the best in Scottish tourism as entries open for the 30th Scottish Thistle Awards.

Tourism and events businesses across the country can now officially send in their applications to be recognised across a range of categories including Best Hotel Experience, Best Eating Experience, Best Bar/Pub and Best Visitor Attraction.

For 30 years, the Scottish Thistle Awards have helped shine a spotlight on individual businesses, people and partnership working. They have become an annual celebration of excellence, collaboration and innovation within one of the country's most important sectors.

Responsible tourism is at the heart of the Scottish Thistle Awards, supporting the aim for Scotland to be recognised globally as a leader in this field. Entrants to all 18 categories must evidence how they have embraced best practice covering the four key areas of a low carbon economy, inclusivity, thriving communities and Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage.

Entering the Scottish Thistle Awards is your opportunity to shout about your achievements, celebrate your successes and reward the hard work of individuals and teams. By winning a Scottish Thistle Award, you’ll join a prestigious roll of honour, earning recognition as one of the best in the country, providing inspiration to peers and ultimately, supporting tourism across Scotland. If you need more inspiration then why not take a look at our previous winners.

We know how challenging writing an entry can be, and we really do want to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible for you. Before you start, take a look at our judges' top tips below for useful hints and advice. When writing your entry, you'll be asked to share information about your business and provide detailed answers to three category-specific questions.

Entries are open - ENTER NOW

Key dates for 2024
Nominations: 1 - 31 March 2024

Entries Open: 18 March 2024
Entries Close: 28 April 2024

Regional Finalists Announced: July 2024
Regional Award Ceremonies: September 2024

National-Only Finalists Announced: August 2024
National Final Award Ceremony: November 2024
Regional Winners automatically progress to the National Final as National Finalists in their category.

Every year, businesses and individuals are honoured with a Scottish Thistle Award; the highest accolade in the Scottish hospitality, tourism and events sector.

Hotels, restaurants, B&Bs, visitor attractions, wildlife tours, festivals, events, luxury experiences, local food and drink, thrilling wildlife tours and friendly and welcoming faces - the Scottish Thistle Awards shine a spotlight on all aspects of what makes Scotland a fantastic place to visit.

Watch the video to hear what it means to receive this prestigious award from the winners themselves - the people working hard to deliver the warm welcome and incredible experiences that Scotland is famous for.

Judges' Top Tips

1. Enter the award category most relevant to you or your organisation. Review all the categories to ensure you are entering the most relevant to fit your organisation’s achievements and results. See your entry as a great opportunity to promote and demonstrate your organisation’s approach to best practice in your chosen category.

2. Begin the submission as early as possible and take your time. Read all the entry questions and the prompt notes carefully before constructing your answer. Take the time to review what you have written before submitting - you could ask someone who knows your business to proof read your entry ahead of time.

3. Answer the entry questions in a clear and concise manner and provide lots of evidence and examples. Ensure the submission is reader-friendly and avoid jargon as the judges may not be familiar with certain phrases or acronyms. Be careful to stick within the word count.

4. Use facts and figures to back up your claims and comments, for example with customer ratings or business stats. Remember, the entry form is one of the main pieces of evidence the judges use to shortlist – make it as easy as possible for them to distinguish between the large number of entries.

5. No additional supporting evidence is accepted so use the opportunities provided on the entry form to include weblinks when they are asked for. If there’s something specific on those links that you wish to draw the judges’ attention to, include it within one of your answers to the questions.

6. Familiarise yourself with the key areas of Responsible Tourism, ensuring you highlight the ways in which your business is committed to responsible development. Find out more about Responsible Tourism and the four priority areas to consider for your business.

7. Be authentic and tell your story from the heart - Don't assume that the judges know your business and let your passion shine through.

ENTER NOW