Inverness firms feature in tourism awards shortlist
Inverness Courier: 10/10/11

A COMPANY which builds and hires campervans from its base at a Dalcross farm is one of the main contenders for this year’s Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards.

Highland Campervans, run by Catherine and Steve Bunn, is nominated for the Best Entrepreneurial Business in the Great Outdoors and Best Visitor Experience -small business categories, while Mrs Bunn and Ina Davies of the Ramada Encore hotel in Inverness are competing for the Best Leader award.

It is another major achievement for the five-year-old company, which employs seven staff and is currently looking to build new office accommodation at Kerrowaird Farm.

Other local nominees on the awards shortlist, which is published today, include Jacobite Cruises and the Kingsmills Hotel, both in the Best Use of Social Media category, the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition in Drumnadrochit (Best Visitor Experience - medium and large business) and Bogbain Farm, which goes up against Highland Campervans in the Best Visitor Experience - small business category.

In addition Yvonne Murray of Bogbain Farm and Arran Macmaster from the Loch Ness Country House Hotel are competing for the title Young Ambassador of the Year.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the calibre and variety of the finalists that have been chosen,” said Marina Huggett, chairwoman of the awards board. “It is particularly important through difficult economic times to celebrate success and focus on the positives which are clearly evident in this year’s shortlist.”

The winners will be announced at a ceremony and dinner at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness on Friday 18th November. Scottish Provincial Press, publisher of The Inverness Courier, is among the sponsors of the awards.



HIGHANDS AND ISLANDS TOURISM AWARDS SHORTLIST

Best Entrepreneurial Business in the Great Outdoors

* Boots N Paddles, Highland

* Highland Campervans, Inverness

* Scottish Boot Camp, Tain

* Wilderness Scotland, Highland



Best Supplier Partnership

* Loch Croispol Bookshop, Restaurant & Gallery, Durness.

* Saxa Vord Restaurant, Shetland

* Whitefalls Spa Lodges, Lewis



Best Sustainable Tourism Exemplar

* Bluebell Croft, Strontian

* Glenuig Inn, Glenuig, Inverness-shire

* Orcadian Wildlife, Orkney



Best Use of Social Media

* Highland Key, Inverness

* Jacobite, Inverness, Inverness

* Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness



Best Visitor Experience categories (medium and large businesses)

* Auchrannie Resort, Arran

* Majestic Line, Argyll

* Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition, Drumnadrochit



Best Visitor Experience (small businesses)

* Bogbain Farm, Inverness

* Highland Campervans, Inverness

* Sealife Glass Bottom Boat, Gairloch

* Whitefalls Spa Lodges, Lewis



Highlands and Islands Pride Award

* Highlands Unbridled, Highlands

* Majestic Line, Argyll

* Three Chimneys and House Over-By, Skye



The Best in Working Together for Tourism

* Dornoch Firth Golf Pass, Dornoch.

* Sands Caravan and Camping, Skye

* Skye & Lochalsh Marketing, Skye



Best Highland Eating Out Experience

To be announced week commencing 10th October



Young Ambassador of the Year

* Simon and Philip Thompson, Dornoch Castle Hotel

* Yvonne Murray, Bogbain Farm

* Arran Macmaster, Loch Ness Country House Hotel

* Gordon Pearson, WOW Scotland, Highlands and Islands



Best Leader Award

* Ina Davies, Ramada Encore, Inverness

* Catherine Bunn, Highland Campervans, Inverness



Ambassador of the Year

To be announced at the awards ceremony

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