SPONSORS


Invitation to sponsor from Barbara Smith

Chair, Scottish Thistle Awards Industry Panel & VisitScotland Board Member

Tourism and events is one of Scotland’s most important industries. It is a force for good, creating jobs, sustaining communities, attracting investment, and enhancing the wellbeing of residents and visitors alike

The Scottish Thistle Awards provide a unique platform to celebrate the outstanding businesses and people that drive this vital industry. As the new Chair of the Industry Panel, it is my pleasure to invite you to join us in supporting the 2026 awards.

Since its creation, the Scottish Thistle Awards have championed excellence, innovation, sustainable practices, and collaboration. They honour the people whose dedication has made Scotland a must-visit, must-return destination.

Sponsoring the awards is an unparalleled opportunity to align your brand with the very best, showcasing your commitment to Scotland’s tourism and events sector.


In line with the ambitions set out in the national tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030, responsible tourism is at the heart of the Scottish Thistle Awards. Our vision is for Scotland to be one of the most economically, environmentally and socially sustainable destinations in the world. Delivered by VisitScotland, the awards are supported by a voluntary Industry Panel, regional delivery partners and a distinguished panel of judges. Their expertise and passion have helped ensure the awards continued success and renowned reputation. We would be delighted to welcome your support as a sponsor of this celebration of Scotland’s tourism and events sector. Join us in championing the businesses and people who make Scotland a leading place to visit, live, work, and do business.


To request our sponsorship brochure and for further information on how we can work together, email us at: info@scottishthistleawards.co.uk


I hope to welcome you on board in supporting this valuable industry, one that makes Scotland among the most iconic and resonating destinations in the world.

Abbey - The Destination Experts

Headline Sponsor

Abbey - The Destination Experts is a collection of travel companies specialising in inbound tourism to the UK & Ireland. Under the Abbey Group umbrella are:

  • Abbey – The Destination Experts
  • Abbey – The Conference Experts
  • Abbey – The Events Experts
  • Moloney & Kelly DMC


Award-winning Abbey – The Destination Experts was established in 1978 and has offices in Edinburgh, London, and Dublin. For over 45 years, we have been a trusted partner in the travel industry, providing a full range of group and individual travel services across the UK & Ireland to the B2B international travel trade. Our experienced team of multilingual travel professionals ensures exceptional delivery of group tours— including special interest and coach tour programmes in multiple languages — as well as bespoke individual itineraries, conferences, and events.

AccessAble


AccessAble is the largest provider of accessibility information across the UK.


Founded in 2000, AccessAble’s mission to create a more inclusive society was initially inspired by the personal experience of Founder Dr. Gregory Burke and developed with 1000s of disability groups.


AccessAble supports over 475+ organisations to publish 70,000 + Detailed Access Guides across a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, retail, education, and public spaces. Available for free on the AccessAble website, the Guides enable disabled people to make informed decisions about where to

go and to navigate new places with confidence.


AccessAble sponsored Inclusion Award.

Fishers

Fishers, a K-BRO company, is the market leader for textile rental, industrial workwear and laundry throughout Scotland and the north of England. The Cupar-based company, established in 1900, cleans, irons and delivers more than two million items every week, providing linen rental, workwear hire and cleanroom garment services to the hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals sectors. Fishers operates six sites in Scotland and the North of England. Fishers’ client base includes major hotel chains such as Travelodge, Hilton, Marriott and Leonardo, as well as prestigious venues such as the Balmoral Hotel, Blythswood Square, Turnberry, Cameron House and the Crieff Family of hotels.

Fishers sponsors Best Hotel Experience

HIT Scotland

HIT Scotland is a charity dedicated to unlocking the potential, expertise, and passion of individuals in the Scottish hospitality industry by offering diverse development opportunities, including Scholarships and new Executive & Leadership Programmes. For over three decades, the organisation has played a crucial role in supporting growth for everyone from new entrants to senior leaders, with the ultimate goal of strengthening the sector's creativity and resilience; all of these impactful programmes are funded through a calendar of fundraising events, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

HIT Scotland sponsors Rising Star Award

Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises

Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises offers a variety of tours and cruises on Loch Ness ranging from 30 minutes to two hour leisurely sailings. You can cruise the Caledonian Canal from Dochgarroch, then sail onto Loch Ness where you can visit Urquhart Castle. 


From three departure points: Dochgarroch Lock, 4 miles from Inverness, Clansman Harbour, 9 miles from Inverness and from Urquhart Castle we offer 5 different cruise options, including the Enchantment, a 50minute cruise from Dochgarroch, along the Caledonian Canal and onto Loch Ness.


At our Dochgarroch base on the banks of the Caledonian Canal, you will also find our café and retail destination An Talla with plenty of parking and a small herd of Highland Cows. Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises has a VisitScotland five-star accreditation and is open year-round.

Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises sponsors Best Visitor Attraction

STV

STV is Scotland’s home of news, entertainment, and drama, providing audiences with top-quality programming on air, online and on demand. STV reaches 2.8 million viewers each month on-air and Scotland’s number one commercial BVOD platform, STV Player, offers access to over 800,000 Scots a month, all tuning in to a diverse array of content.


The STV Growth Fund supports Scottish businesses by making advertising with STV even more accessible for businesses of all shapes and sizes. From retail and travel to leisure and ecommerce businesses, our members have attained success, experiencing heightened awareness following their campaigns. Working with the STV Growth Fund is simple, we collaborate with businesses on marketing solutions to maximise reach and impact by connecting with consumers across Scotland.


STV sponsors Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival

Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors

Delivered by VisitScotland in partnership and collaboration with: