Culloden battles it out at tourism Oscars

In the battle to find the best tourism businesses in the Highlands and Islands, the Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre team are celebrating their outstanding double win at this week’s Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards 2017 ‘Oscars’ ceremony – with a victory in the ‘Best Visitor Attraction’ and ‘Tourism and Hospitality Hero’ categories.

Over 230 businesses and individuals were vying for the honour of being crowned winners in the much sought-after quality tourism award competition. Culloden received the famous piper trophies at a ceremony in the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness and will now go on to compete in both categories at the glittering Scottish Thistle Awards next year.

National Trust for Scotland General Manager for the North West, Clea Warner, attended the ceremony with members of the Culloden team, both staff and volunteers.

Clea said:

“We are so thrilled to win not one but two of these highly prestigious awards – as Best Visitor Attraction and Peter Cowe as Tourism and Hospitality Hero! The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards is regarded as one of the premier industry hospitality awards programmes in Scotland, where the tourism sector is worth more than £4.5 billion to the economy. The National Trust for Scotland is proud to be contributing to this important industry across the Highlands.”

In the ‘Tourism and Hospitality Hero’ category, Peter Cowe was the shining star. In this category the judges were looking for a story about an individual who, over the course of the last 12 months, had consistently inspired visitors by the way they revealed something of the magic of Scotland.

This year’s entries and nominations reached an unprecedented level, surpassing previous record-breaking levels by a 14% increase in entries, making the competition even more challenging. Judges had the arduous task of narrowing down contenders to a 55-strong shortlist in 16 categories, and Culloden was among more than 50 tourism businesses which were shortlisted as finalists in not one but two categories.

Clea added:

“The National Trust for Scotland is an independent charity and has a wealth of wonderful places to visit across the North-West Highlands. Its role in protecting and promoting the nation's treasured places and collections for present and future generations is paramount. These awards demonstrate the high standard of customer care that we work towards and achieve, to make the visitor experience more rewarding and special.”