PEOPLE are being urged to vote for their favourite hotels, bars and restaurants for an awards ceremony described as Scotland's biggest hospitality event.

A host of the country's top venues will be battling it out for the Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards, for which The Herald is media partner.

This year there will be 20 categories including new additions “Scotland’s Best Boutique Hotel”, “Best Ice-Cream Parlour” and “Best Specialist Bar”.

Last year over 50,000 votes were cast with 5000 venues across the country having competed. This year the trophies will be handed out at The Glasgow City Hotel on May 8.

Organisers Paramount Creative are joining up with one of Scotland’s largest brewers Molson Coors for the event, which is also supported by Glasgow Taxis. The awards ceremony will also help raise money for Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Scotland.

Warren Paul, CEO and founder of the awards, said it would be the "biggest year yet” for the awards.

He said: “This has quickly become the public’s event; they choose who they want which is why it’s so popular. Seeing it grow year on year, and watching the sheer amount of amazing venues across the country pushing hard to get to the final is truly special.

"This year we’ve made a few changes, but the integrity of the competition will remain the same, truly fair and fully transparent from beginning to end, and I personally want to wish everyone the best of luck”.

Votes can be cast at www.entertainmentawards.co.uk, with only one vote allowed per person. The venues with the most votes will reach the final and each will then be independently judged with the winners announced during the ceremony in May hosted by comedian Des Clarke.

Chris Martinolli, of La Lanterna Glasgow, which previously won the title of Scotland's Best Restaaurant, said the accolade had made a "huge difference" to the business. "Staff moral has been immense and we were delighted to welcome so many new customers," he said.

Votes are open until March 28. Further information on how to get involved or tickets can be obtained from the website or by contacting the team on 0141 774 5272.