Celebrating Orkney's tourism industry

Winners of the inaugural Orkney Tourism Awards were announced at a gala event held in Kirkwall at the weekend.

Organised by Destination Orkney, the awards included categories for visitor attraction of the year, green innovation and the best welcome to the islands.

In total, 13 accolades were up for grabs on the night, with eight of the winners selected after public voting from local people and visitors to Orkney over the past year.

Orkney’s islands were well represented at the event with Sanday-based pizzeria 59 Degrees North named most ‘Innovative Visitor Experience’, and Westray’s Saintear bistro winning ‘Best Newcomer to Tourism’.

Other winners on the night included the Ness of Brodgar Trust, Fernvalley Wildlife Centre, and Skaill House Falconry, who each took home awards won through public votes.

Each successful business claimed a special trophy – sponsored by NorthLink Ferries – featuring an original design by local artist Ruth D Brough of Orkney Inspired Art, with each piece representing the Ring of Brodgar, one of Orkney’s most famous archaeological sites.

Now the winners will be put forward by Destination Orkney for the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards and the Thistle Awards later this year.

Destination Orkney’s destination manager, Ailsa Heal, said: “Congratulations to all of our finalists and of course to our winners on the night. We wanted our inaugural awards to be a celebration of Orkney’s tourism industry and the people that work so hard providing an incredible welcome to the visitors that come here from around the world.

“We also wanted to give our members the chance to enjoy a fun evening together before the 2023 tourism season begins in earnest. We’re hopeful that our awards will become a bi-annual event and we can continue to highlight and support the work our talented members put in throughout the year.”

Orkney Tourism Awards Winners

Best Newcomer to Tourism

Saintear

Members' Member Award

Sanday Business Forum

Green Innovation

Sanday Community Craft Hub

Responsible Tourism

JP Orkney

Most Innovative Visitor Experience

59 Degrees North

Best Welcome to Orkney

Ship 2 Shore

Tour Guide of the Year

Ness of Brodgar Trust

Visitor Attraction of the Year

Fernvalley Wildlife Centre

Serviced Accommodation of the Year

Merkister Hotel

Non-serviced Accomodation of the Year

Orkney Lux Lodges

Tourism Retailer of the Year

Sheila Fleet Jewellery

Best Hands-on Experience

Skaill House Falconry

Employee of the Year

Rena Johnston, Kristin Linklater Voice Centre

  • The team from Saintear, winners of the Best Newcomer to Tourism award, collecting their trophy from NorthLink Ferries' Magnus Dixon

    The team from Saintear, winners of the Best Newcomer to Tourism award, collecting their trophy from NorthLink Ferries' Magnus Dixon

  • The Skaill House Falconry team with their Best Hands-on Experience award

    The Skaill House Falconry team with their Best Hands-on Experience award

  • Jackie Sinclair collecting the Members' Member Award on behalf of the Sanday Business Forum from NorthLink Ferries' Magnus Dixon

    Jackie Sinclair collecting the Members' Member Award on behalf of the Sanday Business Forum from NorthLink Ferries' Magnus Dixon

  • Rena Johnston, winner of Best Employee of the Year

    Rena Johnston, winner of Best Employee of the Year

  • The JP Orkney team, collecting their Responsible Tourism award from NorthLink Ferries' Magnus Dixon

    The JP Orkney team, collecting their Responsible Tourism award from NorthLink Ferries' Magnus Dixon

  • Sheila Fleet Jewellery, winners of Tourism Retailer of the Year

    Sheila Fleet Jewellery, winners of Tourism Retailer of the Year

  • Best Welcome to Orkney was won by the Ship2Shore team

    Best Welcome to Orkney was won by the Ship2Shore team

  • The Merkister Hotel team, winners of the Serviced Accommodation of the Year award

    The Merkister Hotel team, winners of the Serviced Accommodation of the Year award

  • Ruth Brough, who designed the beautiful awards, collected the Green Innovation trophy on behalf of the Sanday Community Craft Hub

    Ruth Brough, who designed the beautiful awards, collected the Green Innovation trophy on behalf of the Sanday Community Craft Hub

  • The Fernvalley Wildlife Centre won Visitor Attraction of the Year

    The Fernvalley Wildlife Centre won Visitor Attraction of the Year

  • Kristen Muir collected the Most Innovation Visitor Experience Award on behalf of 59 Degrees North

    Kristen Muir collected the Most Innovation Visitor Experience Award on behalf of 59 Degrees North

  • The Orkney Lux Lodges team, winners of the Non-serviced Accommodation of the Year title

    The Orkney Lux Lodges team, winners of the Non-serviced Accommodation of the Year title

Orkney.com Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter

Sign up to receive our newsletter and get the latest updates from our beautiful, vibrant islands.
Sign Up Now