A number of businesses around the southwest have been announced as finalists for the Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence for 2018.

A new category at the awards ceremony this year will be the Indigenous Tourism Experience Category which Cowtown Showdown in Maple Creek has been nominated for.

Other southwest nominations include: The Grotto Gardens Country Market in Maple Creek in the Business of the Year category, The Cowtown Showdown and The Taste of Maple Creek Festival in Maple Creek in the Community Event of the Year category, The Rockin' Horse Cookhouse and Bar in Maple Creek and The Harvest Eatery in Shaunavon in the Service Excellence Award category, and Brenda Peterson, Parks Canada, Grasslands National Park in the Tourism Employee of the Year category.

Finalists and award recipients will be honored at the 30th Annual Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala April 11 in Saskatoon.