"Free to enter and rigorously judged, the awards are open to
businesses and individuals of all sizes and at every stage of their journey."
Overview
The Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards recognise and celebrate excellence across tourism, hospitality and events in the north-east of Scotland.
Our region is home to world-class visitor experiences — from independent micro enterprises and family-run businesses to destination hotels, attractions, outdoor providers and major cultural events. ACSTA exists to recognise the people and businesses who raise standards, innovate, collaborate and champion responsible tourism across Aberdeen City and Shire.
Free to enter and rigorously judged, the awards are open to businesses and individuals of all sizes and at every stage of their journey.
Regional winners go forward to represent Aberdeen City and Shire at the national Thistle Awards, competing alongside the best in Scotland.
History
The Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards were established in **** to ensure that the north-east’s tourism and hospitality sector is recognised for the strength, resilience and ambition that define it.
Over the years, ACSTA has celebrated hundreds of businesses and individuals — from rising stars at the start of their careers to industry leaders whose commitment has shaped the sector for decades and from owner managed businesses to large employers.
The awards have evolved alongside the industry itself, reflecting changing visitor expectations, the growing importance of sustainability and inclusion and the innovation that continues to define our
region.
Today, ACSTA remains proud of its eputation for fairness, integrity and professionalism — and of the calibre of businesses and individuals who choose to enter.
About our Awards
Governance
The Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards are overseen by an independent Steering Committee, chaired by Stephen Gow, made up of senior representatives from across the tourism, hospitality and events sectors.
The Committee ensures:
- Transparency and integrity within the judging process
- Robust governance and compliance
- Fair and consistent application of criteria
- Strategic development of the awards
Judges are selected for their sector expertise and impartiality. All judges are required to adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and declare any conflicts of interest.
ACSTA is committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism throughout every stage of the awards process.
What makes ACSTA Unique
The Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards are distinctive within the Thistle awards family for the depth and rigour of our judging process. All our winners automatically go on to represent Aberdeen City and Shire as a finalist in the national Thistle Awards.
We are proud to:
- Conduct incognito judging visits in many business categories
- Hold face-to-face finalist interviews for individual awards
- Undertake multi-stage scoring to ensure fairness and consistency
- Remain a free-to-enter awards programme
Our judging process does not rely solely on written submissions. We believe excellence must be demonstrated in practice as well as described on paper.
This approach ensures that winners are recognised not only for what they say, but for what they consistently deliver.
At its heart, ACSTA exists to celebrate real excellence —fairly judged, proudly regional and recognised at the highest level.