Day: November 22, 2025

Edinburgh’s Scottish Thistle Awards national winners toast tourism triumph

A life-saving conference, climate conscious zoo, an inspiring festival, and a trailblazing up-and-comer have been crowned Scotland’s best at the country’s top tourism and events industry awards.

Attractions, events and individuals from the city received awards at the Scottish Thistle Awards national final at the Hilton Glasgow last night (20 November).

After triumphing at the Central & East Scotland Thistle Awards last month, finalists competed against their peers for a coveted national trophy and earning recognition across the country for their excellence in Scotland’s tourism industry.

For over 30 years, the Scottish Thistle Awards, this year with new headline sponsor Abbey: The Destination Experts, have showcased individual businesses, people and partnership working. They have become an annual celebration of excellence, collaboration and innovation within one of the country’s most important sectors. Past winners credit the awards with boosting their business, increasing enquiries and inspiring staff.

Delivered by VisitScotland, in partnership with regional awards programmes, the Scottish Thistle Awards combines five regional awards and a national final.

National winners from across the Capital are:

The 36th International Papillomavirus Conference 2024 at EICC which won Best Business Event. 

The conference welcomed over 1,600 delegates from across the globe in November 2024. It brought world leaders in science and healthcare to Scotland, the event advanced research, innovation, and collaboration in tackling HPV and related cancers. 

By raising awareness and boosting vaccination rates in schools and communities, its impact extended far beyond the conference centre. Leaving a legacy that will prevent cancer diagnoses, save lives, and inspire future progress.

Amanda Wrathall, Chief Executive, EICC, said: “Winning the Best Business Event Award at the Scottish Thistle Awards is a tremendous honour.

“IPVC 2024 in Edinburgh embodied the EICC’s vision of inspiring ideas that change the world, proving that business events can deliver impact well beyond the conference floor.

“By increasing HPV awareness and vaccination uptake, its legacy reaches into communities across the globe, a legacy that will prevent cancer diagnoses and save lives.

“This recognition underlines the transformative role of business events in shaping healthier, stronger futures.”

Edinburgh Zoo, who took home the Climate Action Award sponsored by Historic Scotland, which celebrates businesses making significant progress towards net zero.

Judges praised the popular attraction for its environmental sustainability practices and supportive work environment.

Ben Supple, Deputy Chief Executive, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said: “Everyone at Edinburgh Zoo is dedicated to protecting nature, tackling climate change and saving wildlife. 

“It is wonderful that the sustainability activities and innovations at the zoo have been recognised with the climate action award, including the installation of our new solar meadow.”

Edinburgh International Book Festival won the award for Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival, sponsored by STV. The category recognises the outstanding cultural events and festivals that are part of Scotland’s tourism offering.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is a charity which celebrates and shares the power of writers, their ideas, and the words they craft to illuminate, challenge, and inspire.

Held in the heart of the city at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, each August it presents almost 700 events featuring writers and thinkers from around the world.

As well as children and families, young adults, adults, and schools’ programmes, the festival brings writers into community settings such as libraries, hospitals and prisons, and streams events online.

Finally, The Rising Star Award, sponsored by HIT Scotland was presented to Hugh Mackay from Highland Experience Tours – based in Edinburgh.

Hugh began his career in the tourism industry in 2024. While working with Highland Experience Tours, he has delivered over 200 tours, received more than 150 individual five-star guest reviews, and contributed to a 12% uplift in overall tour ratings for the company.

He has been praised for his leadership, authenticity, and natural charisma, which has made him a standout ambassador for Scottish tourism and a true rising star.

Hugh said: “As a young man from the far north of Scotland, I’m honoured to be recognised in this moment that reflects my commitment to hospitality and tourism, and my passion for showcasing Scotland’s very best to every guest I have the privilege of welcoming on my tours.”

VisitScotland Regional Director Neil Christison said: “Congratulations to all our national winners on this outstanding achievement.

“The strong showing from Edinburgh is a testament to the exceptional quality and innovation found throughout the city’s tourism sector.

“Being honoured by the Scottish Thistle Awards places these businesses, events and individuals among the very best in Scotland. These awards play a vital role in celebrating the people whose work continues to make a positive impact on our communities and the wider visitor economy.”

Responsible tourism is at the heart of the Scottish Thistle Awards, supporting the aim for Scotland to be recognised globally as a leader in this field. Entrants to all categories must evidence how they have embraced best practice covering the four key areas of a low carbon economy, inclusivity, thriving communities and Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage.

National winners were announced at a ceremony hosted by TV presenter Jennifer Reoch and delivered by VisitScotland, with headline sponsors Abbey: The Destination Experts – part of the Abbey Group, a collection of travel companies specialising in inbound tourism to the UK & Ireland. 

Winners from all five regional awards, which also include Central and East, the West of Scotland, Highlands and Islands Thistle Awards (HITA), the Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards (ACSTA) and the South of Scotland Thistle Awards (delivered in partnership with the South of Scotland Destination Alliance and supported by South of Scotland Enterprise) competed at the Scottish Thistle Award national final.

This year’s sponsors are AccessAble, Fishers, GetYourGuide, Historic Scotland, HIT Scotland, Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises, Scottish Licenced Trade Association, STV, The Times Scotland and the Scottish Sun.

For a full list of winners, please visit: www.scottishthistleawards.co.uk

Victims of the infected blood disaster to feature in new Scottish Parliament exhibit

The devastating impact on people in Scotland affected by the infected blood disaster will be featured in a new exhibit which has gone on display at the Scottish Parliament.

Jryna Batters, Bruce Norval and Bill Wright OBE describe the personal and lifelong impact infected blood has had on them and their families. The exhibit was designed in consultation with the infected blood community including representatives from Haemophilia Scotland and the Scottish Infected Blood Forum.

It is thought around 3,000 people were infected in Scotland after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s, 80s and early 90s.

The digital exhibit explores the decades-long timeline of how the infected blood disaster unfolded and how individuals worked to keep the issue in public and political awareness. It also looks at how the creation of the Scottish Parliament provided a platform to those who were campaigning for their voices to be heard.

Jryna lives in Skye and tells of her shock at being told she had Hepatitis C after a routine blood donation. Unbeknown to them, Jryna’s husband Donald had contracted the infection after a blood transfusion of infected blood products.

She tells of the shame and stigma she felt along with the lack of support. Sadly, Jryna’s husband Donald died from liver cancer, which had a profound effect on her and her children.

Bruce from the Black Isle also tells of the enormity of the challenge in “fighting the whole system”. He feels he had to do a lot of work himself to find and challenge the evidence and narrative. Bruce and many of those infected were children at the time and he explains the lack of patient awareness and consent. He tells of the lifelong and devastating impact chronic illness has had on him and his family.

Bill, who lives in Dunkeld, explains how he was infected with Hepatitis C in 1986. Initially told that his infection was “unavoidable”, he is now living with liver cancer. He has campaigned tirelessly for justice, driven by his desire to see the truth uncovered for those who have died or those who lost family members as a result of being infected.

The Presiding Officer joined Jryna, and Bill to see the new exhibit going on display, alongside regional and constituency MSPs who represent them and representatives of the infected blood community who advised on the exhibit.

Presiding Officer, the Rt. Hon. Alison Johnstone MSP said: “This new exhibit is a permanent reminder of the devastating impact the contaminated blood disaster has had on people in Scotland and their families. But not only that, it highlights their enduring campaign over several decades to get to the heart of the truth and seek justice.

“I am pleased that the Scottish Parliament is using its national platform to remind people of what happened to Jryna, Bruce and Bill and the thousands of others who have lost precious family members or are continuing to live with the impact of infected blood today.

“Their stories must never be forgotten. And we must continue to let them be heard to make sure nothing like this can ever happen again.”

Jryna Batters said: “The impact of the infected blood disaster for me and my sons is significant loss. Loss of time with my husband Donald, loss of love, family time, memories and adventures.

“For me the exhibit represents some recognition for those that have sadly died and whose lives have been filled with pain because of infected blood.”

Bruce Norval said: “I would really like people to learn from our experiences and for the Parliament at Holyrood to be committed to always continuing to listen to people who are in a minority.

“The Public Petitions Committee should always remain accessible to the smallest possible groups of people, and open to hearing their experiences and evidence.

“It’s particularly important that Parliament listens to people and evidence even when it might be uncomfortable, or at odds with wider narratives from people in positions of power, including the civil service.

“In Scotland right now, there is still a lack of joined up care across all victim groups, and I would like to see the Department of Health write to all GPs to ensure that the 500 or so infected people left in Scotland, receive the treatment and support they need at this time in life, which is usually people in their 50s and 60s.

“I would like to see care that is based on a clear treatment plan for infected people, including people infected as very young children, and acknowledgement that cancer isn’t the only risk to infected people, so that we all receive the best possible care and treatment now, and when it comes to end of life care.”

Bill Wright OBE said: “The permanent video display in the entrance to the Parliament reinforces the decades of campaigning which continues on the detail of the compensation scheme. I thank the Parliament for taking this initiative.

“With Scottish Government support we continue to work towards a permanent tribute/memorial to the grievous loss and suffering faced by those infected and affected by the infected blood disaster.

“My hope is that this will come to fruition soon”.