The 2018/19 Scottish Thistle Awards, in association with Fishers.
Scottish tourism’s premier awards ceremony took place at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre last night (14 March), where 15 individuals, businesses and events were honoured for their innovation, excellence and success in the hospitality and tourism sector.
Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, ‘Paws for a Break’ from the Association of Scotland’s Self Caterers and Cruise Loch Ness were all crowned national winners.
Other awards went to Celtic Connections, Kieran Rose of Borthwick Castle and Sweeney’s Cruise Co.
Willie Cameron, founding director of marketing for Visit Loch Ness and founding director of the Cobbs Group, took the prestigious Johnstons of Elgin Silver Thistle Award this year, which was presented by the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, and George McNeil, Managing Director of Retail for Johnstons of Elgin.
Full list of Scottish Thistle Awards National Final 2018/19 winners
| Category | Winner | Location |
| Best Self Catering Accommodation Experience - sponsored by Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers | Leny Estate | Callander, Perthshire |
| Best Eating Experience - sponsored by Caledonian MacBrayne | Eat on the Green | Ellon, Aberdeenshire |
| Best Outdoor/Adventure Experience | Sweeney's Cruise Co | Loch Lomond |
| Best Sporting Event | Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open | Gullane, East Lothian |
| Best Cultural Event or Festival - sponsored by Kinara Distillery | Celtic Connections | Glasgow |
| Most Hospitable Hotel - sponsored by Fishers | Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf | Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire |
| Innovation in Tourism - sponsored by Geotourist | Wigtown Festival Company | Dumfries & Galloway |
| Best Heritage Tourism Experience - sponsored by Historic Environment Scotland | The Real Mary King's Close | Edinburgh |
| Best Bar / Pub - sponsored by J Thomson Colour Printers | MacGregor's Bar | Inverness |
| Best Business Event - sponsored by CAT Media | European Orthodontic Society Congress 2018 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre | Edinburgh |
| Working Together for Tourism - sponsored by Edinburgh Airport | Association of Scotland's Self Caterers, Paws for a Break | Central, Fife & Tayside |
| Best Visitor Attraction - sponsored by Scotrail | Cruise Loch Ness | Inverness |
| Tourism and Hospitality Hero | Kieran Rose, Borthwick Castle | Midlothian |
| Most Hospitable B&B / Guest House - sponsored by Criton | Newton Farm Holidays & Tours | Forfar, Angus |
| Silver Thistle - sponsored by Johnstons of Elgin | Willie Cameron | Inverness, Highlands |
American author of the bestselling Outlander series, Diana Gabaldon, was also in attendance to receive a special honorary Thistle award in recognition of her International Contribution to Scottish tourism. The award was granted in recognition of the phenomenal success of the Outlander TV series, based on Ms Gabaldon’s novels, and the resulting impact on Scottish tourism in recent years.
Scottish actor, writer and comedian, Greg McHugh, co-hosted the evening with STV presenter and former Miss Scotland, Jennifer Reoch. Entertainment was provided by Highlands-based Indie rock band Elephant Sessions.