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Caithness News Bulletins September 2003

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Scottish Thistle Award Finalists 2003
Ackergill Tower Makes The Finalists List

Forty-nine of Scotland's tourism businesses have been selected to go forward to the final stage of judging for one of the industry's ultimate accolades.

The finalists for the Scottish Thistle Awards, created by VisitScotland and now in their twelfth year will hear by 24th October if they have won.   The awards reward excellence, professionalism and creative thinking across the tourism industry.

Spread over 14 categories, the awards take in areas such as training, marketing initiatives, business tourism, environmental campaigns, information technology and travel journalism. This year also sees the introduction of the innovation category for businesses that can demonstrate they have achieved success by delivering a genuinely innovative tourism project that has made a difference.

Winners will be announced at the award ceremony at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Friday 24th of October.

The Finalists
SKILLS FOR SUCCESS: LARGE COMPANY
Sponsored by SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE
Finalists: City Inn, Glasgow
Marriott � Glasgow
National Trust for Scotland
SKILLS FOR SUCCESS: SMALL COMPANY
Sponsored by HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS ENTERPRISE
Finalists: Sensation: Dundee
Tomb of the Eagles, Orkney
Town House Restaurant, Dunfermline
TOURISM AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Sponsored by SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE
Finalists: Angus and Dundee Tourist Board � Angus Glens Walking Festival
Cream O� Galloway Dairy Co. Ltd, Castle Douglas
Loch Insh Watersports, Kincraig
INNOVATION
Sponsored by THE TOURISM INNOVATION GROUP
Finalists: Ackergill Tower, by Wick

Fame Academy of Sheep Dogs, Kinlochard
The Howard, Edinburgh
TRAVEL JOURNALISM
Sponsored by GLENFIDDICH
Finalists: BBC Television � Holiday 2002/2003
James Henderson � How to Spend It
Lesley McDowell � Sunday Herald Magazine
FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND
Sponsored by CATERER AND HOTELKEEPER
Finalists: Boath House, Nairn
Coll Hotel, Coll
Lochside Lodge and Roundhouse Restaurant, Kirriemuir
CUSTOMER CARE
Sponsored by VISITSCOTLAND � INDUSTRY SERVICES
Hotel of the Year
Finalists: Kirroughtree House, Newton Stewart
Radisson SAS, Glasgow
Guest House / B&B of the Year
Finalists: Balmory Hall, Isle of Bute
Craigadam, Castle Douglas
Self-Catering Operator of the Year
Finalists: Birchbrae, Fort William
Cairngorm Executive, Banchory
Visitor Attraction of the Year
Finalists: Creetown Gem Rock Museum, Newton Stewart
Dewars World of Whisky, Aberfeldy
Camping & Caravan Park of the Year
Finalists: Tralee Bay Holidays, Oban
Trossachs Holiday Park, Aberfoyle
AREA TOURISM INITIAITIVE
Sponsored by THE EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE
Finalists: Falkirk Inspired Partnership, Stirling
Orkney Tourist Board � Rolling in the Isles, Kirkwall
Rare Management � Fort William Mountain Bike World Cup, Fort William
INDIVIDUAL EXCELLENCE
Sponsored by MACDONALD HOTELS
Finalists: Julie Franchetti, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh & Lothians
Peter Murphy, Sheraton Grand, Edinburgh
Laurence Young, Lochaber Centre for Tourism Excellence
SCOTLAND YEAR-ROUND
Sponsored by BAA SCOTTISH AIRPORTS
Finalists: Perthshire Tourist Board
St Andrews Bay Golf Resort and Spa
The Glasgow Science Centre
SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING INITIATIVE
Sponsored by bmi
Finalists: Ayrshire Farmers Market
Gailes Lodge Restaurant and Inn, Irvine
The Argyll Hotel, Glasgow
MARKETING INITIATIVE
Sponsored by BAXTERS FOOD GROUP
Finalists: Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown
Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board � Escape to the Edge
Scottish Youth Hostels Association � �Escape for a Fiver�
BUSINESS TOURISM INITIATIVE
Sponsored by VISITBRITAIN
Finalists: Dundee and Angus Convention Bureau
Edinburgh Convention Bureau
Maximillion Events
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE
Sponsored by THE WITCHERY BY THE CASTLE
Finalists: Apex Hotels
Dundee and Angus Convention Bureau
Edinburgh Festival Fringe