The trade body for golf tourism in Scotland has announced the venue for this year’s Gold Standard Awards – the golf industry’s blue-ribbon event where the best of Scotland’s travel, hospitality and golf service providers are celebrated. Following a lengthy selection process, Golf Tourism Scotland confirmed that the 2010 Awards will take place at the renowned Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa in North Berwick.
Among the honours up for grabs at the award-winning hotel will be this year’s top golf course, transport operator, golf tour operator, golf secretariat and caddiemaster. In addition, the gala evening will also toast Scotland’s best golf hotels as well as the recipients of the GTS Special Achievement Award and the acclaimed Young Industry Person Award.
In total, 11 Gold Standard Awards will be handed out during the evening each carrying the cachet that recognises the recipients as leading exponents of excellence in Scotland. As Nick Hunter, Chairman of GTS, noted, the awards bring with them status as well as international recognition.
“The Gold Standard Awards celebrate the best our country has to offer,” Hunter said. “They recognise companies and individuals that excel in golf tourism and as such embody the very best in Scotland. They carry with them a huge amount of prestige which is recognised by the industry both at home and abroad. In effect, they are the industry’s Oscars, so where better to host them than at the Macdonald Marine in North Berwick?”
The significance of the Gold Standard Awards was reiterated by Seamus Coen, regional general manager at the Macdonald Marine Hotel. “The GTS Gold Standard Awards are what we all aim to achieve,” he said. “They are the pinnacle of excellence for the golf industry, and as such we are extremely excited to host such a prestigious event in North Berwick. It will certainly be a night to remember.”
The GTS Gold Standard Awards will be held at the Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa on Thursday 11 November 2010. Nominations for the 11 categories are now open and need to be submitted by Friday 17 September.
Golf Tourism Scotland www.golftourismscotland.com