At the Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards (ACSTA) ceremony held in Aberdeen on Friday 20 September 2024,Ellie Gray, pastry chef at The Chester Hotel scooped the MacRobert Trust Rising Star award along with a HIT Scotland scholarship.

Alison Christie, area general manager at Leonardo Hotels, who has worked in hospitality in the region since she began her career at Altens Skean Dhu hotel in Aberdeen, was honoured with the Tourism Individual of the Year award, emphasising her exceptional contribution to the sector.

Kildrummy Inn by Alford won the Best Hotel Experience category, in what will be a busy weekend for the hotel as they are also one of only three businesses vying for the title of UK AA Inn of the Year on Monday night at the AA Excellence awards in London.

The awards celebrate the very best of the region’s tourism and hospitality sector and the event saw the recognition of 15 individuals and businesses for their excellence and innovation.

• Climate Action - The Bay Fish and Chips, sponsored by Keenan Recycling
• Inclusive Tourism - Farm Stop, sponsored by VisitAberdeenshire
• Innovation in Tourism - Northern Frights and Fantasy Scotland, sponsored by Johnstons of Elgin
• Best Self Catering or Unique Stay - Cowden Farm Holidays, sponsored by Aberdeen City & Shire Hotels' Association
• Best B & B or Guesthouse - No 45 Ballater, sponsored by Leonardo Hotels
• Best Visitor Attraction - Gordon Highlanders Museum, sponsored by Aberdeen International Airport
• Best Adventure or Outdoor - Twin Peakes Fly Fishing, sponsored by Opportunity North East
• Celebrating Thriving Communities - We Too, sponsored by NorthLink Ferries
• Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival - Big Hop Trail Clan Cancer Support, sponsored by Port of Aberdeen
• Best Bar or Pub - Harbour Bar Gourdon, sponsored by Shepherd and Wedderburn
• Best Eating Experience - The Library at Douneside, sponsored by Alliance
• Best Hotel Experience - Kildrummy Inn, sponsored by Fishers
• Tourism and Hospitality Employer of the Year - The Fife Arms, sponsored by Tricker Communications
• Tourism Individual of the Year -Alison Christie, Leonardo Hotels, sponsored by P&J Live
• MacRobert Trust Rising Star - Ellie Gray, The Chester Hotel, sponsored by the MacRobert Trust

Stephen Gow, Chairman of the Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards, remarks: "The calibre of this year's finalists and winners has been outstanding, and it’s fantastic to see so many first-time winners tonight. It’s also gratifying to see that so many of our smaller tourism and hospitality businesses have beaten off the competition from their larger rivals to scoop their category wins. These businesses and individuals not only uphold but enhance the reputation of the north-east of Scotland as a world-class destination. Their achievements are truly commendable.

“I also want to recognise the award sponsors. We remain a free to enter awards scheme and are the only awards in the Thistle awards family to undertake incognito visits to many of our categories and face to face interviews with individuals’ categories’ finalists. Often a business which scores very highly in their paper submission does not deliver the same on a judge’s visit and we strongly believe this is a fair way to comprehensively judge all entrants. Without the generous support of our sponsors we would be unable to do this, and unable to give our finalists the unforgettable awards ceremony we’ve enjoyed tonight. Our sponsors are true acolytes for tourism in our region.

"We are incredibly proud of all the finalists and winners, their innovative approaches and unwavering commitment significantly contribute to the vibrancy and sustainability of our tourism sector.”

For further information about the awards and a complete list of winners, visit www.acsta.co.uk.