Camera Obscura Triumphs with Double Win at Thistle Awards!
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions has been crowned winner of two awards at the 2024 Central and East Scotland, regional final of the Scottish Thistle Awards: Climate Action and Hospitality and Tourism Employer of the Year.
The Thistle Awards recognise and honour the very best individuals, businesses, partnerships, and events in the industry for their innovation, excellence and success.
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions was recognised as the Tourism and Hospitality Employer of the Year. This accolade celebrates commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and innovative work environment that has successfully attracted and retained a diverse workforce. The team of 75 staff, representing a wide range of backgrounds including gender, LGBTQIA+, neurodiversity, and age, is dedicated to providing exceptional service to the over 300,000 visitors welcomed this year. Prioritising employee welfare through extensive support programs, including mental health resources, flexible working conditions, and robust training in diversity and conflict resolution, made Camera Obscura stand out from the crowd.
The second win came from securing the Climate Action Award. This accolade recognises the attraction's steadfast commitment to sustainability, exemplified by their meticulous approach to tracking and reducing carbon emissions across electricity, waste, water, and transport. Through diligent recording of energy usage, waste output, and water consumption, and by categorising emissions per the globally recognised Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Camera Obscura has effectively reduced its carbon footprint. Significant achievements include a 45% reduction in carbon emissions since 2019, transitioning to 100% renewable energy sources, and implementing innovative waste reduction strategies. This award underscores Camera Obscura's role as a leader in environmental stewardship, aligning with Edinburgh's Tourism Strategy to reach Net Zero by 2030.
Hundreds of entries were submitted for the Central and East Thistle Awards across 15 categories, as businesses and individuals strove to earn recognition for the part they play in making Scotland such as tremendous place to visit.
General Manager, Andrew Johnson said “We were up against some outstanding attractions and other top-rated tourism businesses, so are delighted to have won two awards. We’re very proud of our team for the way they look after our many visitors and for putting so much into making our attraction a fantastic and innovative visit for all ages. We would like to congratulate everyone who was nominated for an award."
