Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards (HITA) winner Islay's Emma Clark shares the secrets of her success
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Hospitality businesses are showing an appetite for sharing their good news with record entry numbers for the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards (HITA).
There are 18 categories in this year’s awards, with most of the winners going on to the national Scottish Thistle Awards, where Highlands and Islands winners have enjoyed considerable success in recent years.
HITA chairman Laurence Young was delighted by the response and commented: “After undoubtedly the toughest two years our industry colleagues have ever faced, it is terrific to see so many businesses entering this year’s awards.
“The awards have always been a showcase for the very best of our sector, but this year they will also showcase innovation and resilience in this time of unprecedented challenge and I look forward to hearing their stories.”
One person who knows how to tell a story that grabs the judges’ attention is past HITA winner Emma Clark of the five-star Glenegedale House guest house on Islay.
Emma, a three time HITA winner, warned not to leave things too late.
“Give yourself time to think about it and don’t do it all in one go. There are always things you think about later and which you will want to add,” she advised.
One tip Emma shares is to stick the application on your fridge and keep a pen close by so you can make additions as they occur.
“These are the things we think are normal and everyday, but aren’t,” she added.
“You presume everyone goes out of the way to meet dietary requirements or remembers something from a guest 10 years ago, but really they don’t.”
Another key message from Emma is not to be shy about sharing your achievements.
“In the hospitality industry, singing our own praises doesn’t come naturally, so write your application in the third person if you are more comfortable doing it that way,” she added.
“It makes you take a look at your own business and realise what you have achieved and how far you have come.”
Even if you are not a winner, just being a part of the awards can bring personal and professional benefits, whether enduring new friendships or an introduction to a new local producer or potential partner you had never known of before.
And if you are a winner, you can gain so much more.
“I should say the best thing about winning is that a HITA Award brings you more business and gives guests confidence in what you do,” Emma said.
“But the biggest thing for me is that it gives you confidence in what you are doing and puts a spring in your step as you look ahead to what comes next.”
Emma, who is also chairwoman of Explore Islay and Jura and vice-chairwoman of Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative, is now a member of the HITA board herself, giving her a different view of the awards and the organisation.
“It’s nice to see the other side of it and actually see people win and watch their reactions and also watch how the magic of the awards is put together,” Emma said.
“I have to say the board are a really lovely group of people who are doers, and that is an exciting thing to be a part of.”
The 2022 HITA Awards ceremony takes place at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, on Friday, November 4, 2022. For more information on how to enter or attend the awards dinner, please visit highland-tourism-awards.co.uk
