Dumfries and Galloway has been named 2014’s “Destination of the Year” by Scotland’s national hotel awards scheme.
The Scottish Hotel Awards (SHA) said the region “has a strong hotel offering, warm hospitality, stunning landscapes and rich culture.”
Each year the scheme chooses a Scottish destination which must not only contain top quality places to stay and eat but also offer visitors a wide variety of activities. Last year it chose the Isle of Arran.
A spokesman said Dumfries and Galloway was often bypassed by visitors, including those flying direct to Glasgow or Edinburgh, or driving north through the Borders. He also praised its history, fishing communities, Christian heritage, visual arts, literature, fresh local seafood, dairy farms and “charming country house hotels.”
Gary Mclean Quin, Honorary President of the Scottish Hotel Awards, commented: “This year the whole of Scotland will be in the global spotlight thanks to major events and the Homecoming 2014 initiative. Our organisation knows Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire well but they are sadly often overlooked. The region offers availability of a wide range of high quality, good value accommodation, food and drink in an exceptionally busy tourism year.”
Paula Mcdonald, Regional Director for Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders at VisitScotland, who accepted the award together with Angus Fordyce, Chairman of Luxury Galloway, added:
“We are delighted that Dumfries & Galloway has been named ‘Destination of the Year’ by the Scottish Hotel Awards. We continually promote the great places to stay and things to see and do in the region to both UK and international markets, working in close partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council. This year, local businesses have a fantastic opportunity to capitalise on the strong Homecoming Scotland programme of over 800 events, with many of these taking place right here in the region.”
The Scottish Hotel Awards
Now in their 12th season, the Scottish Hotel Awards (http://scottishhotelawards.com) are a year-round programme which works with Scotland’s best hotels, helping them develop their business and achieve excellence in all areas of operation. Described by First Minister Alex Salmond as “The flagship awards for the Scottish hotel industry”, the scheme provides year-round promotion and personal business advice before carrying out a rigorous judging process culminating in the annual awards ceremony each April. Its media partner is Scotland Magazine (www.scotlandmag.com).
