EmbraceScotland Properties Shortlisted for Tourism Awards

Three EmbraceScotland properties are finalists in the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards 2011 - Whitefalls Spa Lodges, Bluebell Croft and Saxa Vord Resort. Here are some of the reasons why these properties have been shortlisted.

Whitefalls Spa Lodges

Situated in a stunning location on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Whitefalls Spa Lodges offers luxury self-catering lodges for two. With all the style of a boutique hotel and luxury spa, each lodge has a huge spa bathroom featuring a sauna, monsoon shower and double-ended spa bath. You can also treat yourself to a spa treatment in the comfort of your own lodge.

The luxury 5 star Spa Lodges have been shortlisted for two Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards, in the Best Visitor Experience and Best Supplier Partnership categories. It is the second year running they have been a finalist for the Best Visitor Experience award in the Small Business category, showing that 'they go that extra mile to consistently provide a unique and memorable customer experience'.

Bluebell Croft

Bluebell Croft, a sustainable working croft in the West Highlands, has been shortlisted in the category of Best Sustainable Tourism Exemplar for the second year running; an award given to tourism businesses which 'recognise the importance of our environment and seek to protect it'.

The owners, Bill and Sukie Barber, have achieved their goal of burning no fossil fuels and run their 5 star luxury self-catering houses using a wind turbine, wood boiler and solar panels. They also produce all their own meat, soft fruit and eggs, as well as most of their own milk and vegetables. To find out more about life on the croft you can visit their blog.

They have also been put forward by VisitScotland's Green Tourism Awards for the Highest Achiever of the Year. If you're interested in staying in self catering with a Green Tourism award, such as Bluebell Croft, you can select 'Green Tourism' in your accommodation search on EmbraceScotland.

Saxa Vord Resort Self Catering Houses

Saxa Vord Resort is located on Unst, in the Shetland Isles - the most northerly populated island in the UK. For their joint work with Unst Regeneration Growers Enterprise (URGE), the resort has been shortlisted in the Best Supplier Partnership category. In 2010 Saxa Vord Resort was a finalist in the Dining Out Experience category.

Due to the remote location of Unst, there used to be logistical problems in sourcing quality produce. URGE, Britain's most northerly market garden, provides the fresh produce that the restaurant at Saxa Vord Resort needs and the team at Saxa Vord work to raise awareness of URGE.

The Best Supplier Partnership award 'celebrates partnerships in the supply chain' where businesses have 'come together in an innovative and creative way to help themselves and each other, in the interests of an improved customer service'.

The winners of the Tourism Awards will be announced on 19th November and we wish all three EmbraceScotland properties the best of luck! To find out more about the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards 2011 click here.

EmbraceScotland has a wide range of quality assured holiday cottages in the Highlands and Islands - browse self catering Highlands and holiday accommodation in Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides.