This category was looking to reward businesses that exceed customer expectations, making a stay or visit more memorable.  These important awards recognise that as a service industry, excellence in service, hospitality and customer care are core business objectives. They were open to all members of VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance schemes and no matter how large or small your business, it’s the size of your welcome that counts!

Entries were invited for: Camping and Caravan Park of the Year, Guest House / B & B of the Year, Hotel of the Year, Self-Catering Operator of the Year, and Visitor Attraction of the Year.

WINNER – Huntly Peregrine Wild Watch, Aberdeenshire

Huntly Peregrine Wild Watch is a visitor attraction run by Forestry Commission Scotland with both conservation and education as its dual role. Essentially a bird-watching hide, Huntly offers parties the opportunity to watch peregrines as they hatch and rear their young, through to flight and hunt training. What makes Huntly Peregrine a highly memorably experience is the excellent, focussed and well delivered customer care offered by both the staff and enthusiastic volunteers. Huntly is now oversubscribed with school parties who want to take advantage of this free attraction.

FINALIST - Haggis Adventures (Radical Travel) Edinburgh
When is a bus trip not only a bus trip? When it’s a Haggis Adventure. Haggis takes a traditional bus tour and turns it into an attraction for the young and the young at heart. Lead by personable and definitively individual driver guides, Haggis offers a fun, rewarding and excellent visitor experience. The customer care is efficient and friendly, and there is a real sense of both care and enjoyment in their tourism offer. Haggis has changed the traditional image of bus tours in Scotland, and it’s a unique experience.

FINALIST – The Royal Yacht Britannia, Edinburgh
The Royal Yacht Britannia is undoubtedly one of Scotland key attractions. From the moment of arrival at Britannia there is a sense of anticipation. The attraction takes pride in its excellent customer service, and the good training and personable staff, make this self-guided attraction all the more enjoyable because of it. Staff interaction is minimal, allowing the visitor ample time to enjoy the Royal Yacht and all its gems, and there is clear evidence of efficient service across the board at Britannia.

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