Entries for the Aberdeen and Grampian Thistle Awards (ACSTA) 2023 have soared compared to 2022 totals.
Event organisers have received almost a third more entries for this year’s awards than in 2022. Judges have now begun the process of assessing the submissions.
The ACSTA organisers are particularly pleased that the new categories which have been introduced for 2023 – The MacRobert Trust Emerging Talent Award, Climate Action, Inclusive Tourism and Celebrating Thriving Communities - have been very popular with entrants.
ACSTA chairman Stephen Gow MI FIH says, “It’s gratifying to see so many new entrants this year who have not entered the Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards before. The 30 percent increase is thanks to those making their ACSTA debut. The numbers of entries in the best bar or pub are significantly higher than in any previous year and we’ve also had record entries in the self-catering and best eating categories from across the whole north-east.
“The popular new celebrating thriving communities category is demonstrating the importance of partnerships and collaboration to ensure that the benefits of tourism are experienced directly by our communities and that our visitors enjoy enriched experiences delivered by those who know and live in our area. There’s been a similarly good ‘turn out’ for climate action and inclusive tourism showing that our tourism and hospitality businesses are working hard to make our sector sustainable and physically and financially accessible to all.”
The ACSTA committee and judges are all volunteers from the industry and are currently assessing the written entries of all, before making incognito visits to the entrants in categories such as best hotel, best B & B or guesthouse, best bar or pub and best eating experience.
The shortlist of finalists in each category will be announced in mid-July, with the award ceremony being held at The Chester Hotel in Aberdeen on Friday, September 22, 2023. All category winners will then go forward to the national Scottish Thistle awards which take place in Glasgow in November.
In 2022, three Aberdeen City and Shire winners went on to scoop a Scottish Thistle award – five star Aboyne B & B Lys Na Greyne was named the Best B & B Experience. Douneside House took home the Best Hotel Experience under 20 rooms and Crathie-based Wild Discovery scooped the Best Outdoor Adventure Experience gong.
