The Scottish Tourism Thistle Awards
Created by VisitScotland in 1991, these awards showcase business excellence and quality.  As an important event on the tourism calendar, the media attention it generates helps VisitScotland and the sponsors raise the profile of the tourism industry.

 
Sustainable Tourism Thistle Award 
Sponsored by Scottish Natural Heritage, this award is open to any businesses who can demonstrate excellence and leadership in sustainable tourism. Businesses must show how their commitment to Scotland 's environment and people guide their operations, growth and ambitions.

2007 WINNER - Rabbie’s Trail Burners
 
For Rabbie’s Trail Burners, small is beautiful, and Eric Schumacher’s guiding principles of sustainable development and conservation have been woven into their business policies since its start up.  Their aim - to give their customers a memorable and enriching experience which lasts a lifetime.   Their method – to get visitors out of their cars and onto small mini-coaches enabling them to see the real Scotland , staying in small guesthouses, enjoying local produce and having a truly authentic experience which is both inspiring for the visitor and sustaining for the communities they visit. An exemplary application by a very special business.

Rabbie’s demonstrate clear evidence of a sustained vision and real commitment to leadership in sustainable tourism. Rabbie’s application was particularly strong on the range of benefits accruing to the business from a sustainable approach.

Further information: Rabbie's Trail Burners

2007 RUNNER UP - Crown Estate, the Glenlivet Estate

The first large landowner in the UK to receive Gold in the Green Tourism Business Scheme, Glenlivet Estate is a remarkable example of integrated land management with environmental education which benefits both local people and visitors. 

Tourism facilities and services on the estate are managed in a way that helps promote sustainable economic development and community involvement while protecting the very special environment which makes up the natural heritage of the Estate. 

The Estate has won widespread recognition for implementing a wide range of sustainable land use activities and introducing innovative management practices and tourism initiatives. 

Glenlivet is a great example of sustainable tourism in action on a ‘not-so’ traditional Scottish estate. Glenlivet are great at consulting with the local community and surveying visitor opinion, as well as staff engagement with local networks. Glenlivet can demonstrate excellent evidence of the benefits that sustainable tourism brings to the estate, and its role of providing wider community benefits.

Further Information: Glenlivet Estate

2007 RUNNER UP - Radisson SAS Hotel, Edinburgh

The Radisson Hotel in Edinburgh can rightly claim to be leaders in the field of sustainable tourism.  With a full-time member of staff promoting environmental and social responsibility, the hotel is working to reduce any negative environmental and social impacts from its activities. 

As well as minimising the CO2 produced by hotel operations, all unavoidable CO2 is offset through the funding of Gold Standard projects, accredited by DEFRA.  And despite being a city centre business, the Radisson is well aware of its impact on the natural environment, indeed it sees its city centre location as an opportunity to promote public transport and city walking to its customers.

A true leader in sustainable tourism amongst larger hotels in Scotland . Investment in a full-time member of staff to promote environmental and social responsibility places these at the heart of planning and operations.

Further Information: Radisson SAS