18 minute read
NEWS
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE OWNERS REFUTE CLAIMS IT IS PART OF PARADORES PLAN
A SNP plan to create high-end holiday accommodation in historic settings, along the lines of the Paradores Nacionales in Spain, which is a collection of 95-historic state-run properties, was discussed at the recent party conference. The Scottish ‘Paradores plan’ is part of a wider £12 billion strategy to boost the rural economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, ahead of the conference there were press reports that Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire was being mooted as a possible candidate, but the owners promptly issued a statement putting their position straight, “Contrary to some recent media reports there are no plans to convert the Castle into a high-end hotel in the style of Spain’s paradores. As I am sure you will agree, its status as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, not to mention the substantial conversion costs, might prove to be stumbling blocks. “Whilst any proposals that are designed to increase inward investment are to be applauded, the majesty and history of the existing managed ruins at Dunnottar already draw large numbers to the North East with the Castle welcoming more than 140,000 visitors last year. “We remain fully committed to continuing the Castle’s operation as a key visitor attraction, one that’s enjoyed by many local people as well as tourists from around the world.”
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NEW BOSS AT MACDONALD HOTELS
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of Tara O’Neill as Chief Executive Officer earlier this month. She assumes responsibility for the group’s 30 luxury hotels and five holiday resorts in Britain, as well as four resorts in Spain.
A qualified chartered accountant, Mrs O’Neill worked in professional practice in both Ireland and the UK with Arthur Andersen and KPMG before moving into the hospitality sector, with senior roles at Luminar Leisure PLC and the
Jamie Oliver Group. She joins following the retirement of Group
Managing Director Gordon Fraser. He revealed his plan to retire at the sart of the year, however remained in position to guide the business through the challenges presented by the
Covid-19 pandemic and to secure an additional
Covid-19 finance facility with Lloyd’s Banking
Group. Mr Fraser will work alongside Mrs
O’Neill for several months to ensure a smooth handover, whilst retaining his board position as
Group Deputy Chairman. Company founder Donald Macdonald said, “This is a pivotal appointment at an extremely important time for the group. I am very confident that, in Tara, we have recruited someone who can provide the necessary leadership and ambition to help us build upon the very solid foundations which Gordon has helped to create over many years. “During the recruitment process, Tara impressed everyone involved with her vision for the group, and her track record gives us real confidence that the business will continue to prosper and grow, despite the obvious current challenges which Covid-19 has brought to our industry.” Tara comments, “The enormous impact of Covid-19 on the hospitality sector underlines the challenges which face us in the months and years ahead, but I believe the Macdonald portfolio of assets represents a unique and exciting opportunity to capitalise on the changing face of the hospitality sector and the evolving needs of our customers. “I look forward to working with the wider board in securing the long-term stability of the business to ensure that we strengthen our position as one of the country’s leading hospitality groups. A key element of that strategy will be to provide a platform that will enable the many talented people working within the business as well as our suppliers and other partners to satisfy their own ambitions and thrive.” Mr Macdonald added“This is a very significant moment for our business, not only because we have appointed Tara to lead the business in the years ahead, but as it also marks the end of a hugely successful era under Gordon’s leadership. “He has been one of the most influential figures in our company for almost three decades and his integrity, drive and judgement have been absolutely central to the achievements of the entire group. I have been fortunate to have him at my side for so many years, and even more fortunate to have his ongoing friendship. “I am very pleased that Tara will have access to Gordon in the months ahead to facilitate a smooth exchange of knowledge about the business and that Gordon will thereafter assume a formal role as Non-Executive Deputy Chairman.”
GLENEAGLES OWNER PARTNERS WITH ACCOR IN ARRANGEMENT WHICH SEES ACCOR BECOME MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER IN ENNISMORE
French hospitality group Accor has entered into a new partnership with Ennismore, the parent company of Gleneagles Hotel and The Hoxton hotel chain. It plans to create, “the world’s leading lifestyle operator in the hospitality sector.” The all-share merger, which has Accor as the majority shareholder and Ennismore’s founder and CEO Sharan Pasricha as a “substantial minority position” brings together Ennismore’s The Hoxton, Gleneagles in Perthshire with Accor’s Delano, SLS, Mondrian, SO/, Hyde, Mama Shelter, 25h, 21c Museum Hotels, Tribe and Jo&Joe brands. Gaurav Bhushan, CEO of Accor Lifestyle division is joining Pasricha as co-CEO of the new company which will be called Ennismore. Commenting on the deal Accor chairman and CEO Sébastien Bazin said, “Lifestyle, entertainment, places with a soul have been at the heart of our development and growth strategy over the last years. Partnering with Ennismore’s founder Sharan and his great teams will take our lifestyle ambition to a new and exciting level.” The Accor-Ennismore deal is expected to close by early 2021 after the employee consultation processes and customary regulatory authorizations take place. Once completed the combined entity will comprise 12 brands with 73 hotels in operation with a committed pipeline of more than 110 hotels and another c. 70 hotels under active discussion, and over 150 destination restaurant and bars. Based on the current network and pipeline the lifestyle platform should achieve an EBITDA of over c. €100m by midterm, the project resulting in significant cost synergies of approximately €15m per year. Sharan Pasricha, Founder & CEO of Ennismore said, “Over the last nine years, our mission with Ennismore has always been creating hospitality brands that inspire discovery. I’m passionate about how brands make you feel, from the personalised digital experience to the design, and with an incredible team of operators and creatives around me, we have expanded The Hoxton across the globe; reimagined Gleneagles; and crafted unique restaurant and bar concepts. “This exciting autonomous entity with Accor - one with culture and brand purpose at its heart - allows us to come together to build on our combined portfolio of unique lifestyle brands, accelerate our growth and explore new markets. I look forward to working with Gaurav and Sébastien on this exciting next chapter as we become an unrivalled player in the hospitality industry.” Gaurav Bhushan, said, “Joining forces with Sharan and Ennismore’s talented teams will be a major step in Accor’s development strategy. With this combination, we are putting together an unrivalled portfolio of unique brands that appeals to owners, partners and guests, supported by the greatest set of talents in the industry, state of the art distribution and tools and a common ambition to continue to grow and innovate.”
In order to form the new company Accor also announced it will take full ownership of sbe Group whose hotel brands include the Delano, Mondrian, SLS and Hyde.
AWARDS FOR SCOTLAND’S HOTELIERS AT VIRTUAL SP&B AWARDS
Brendan Crozier Jonathan Gilbanks The 2020 Scottish Bar & Pub awards blazed a trail by going virtual for the first time in 25 years at the end of last month and in what could be a world -first hundreds of industry operators, staff, and for the first time members of the public tuned in live from all over Scotland to gather on a virtual red carpet, before taking their at seats virtual tables to watch the ceremony, rounding off the evening with entertainment in several other rooms. Host showbiz journalist Beverley Lyons presented a total of 20 awards with unsuspecting recipients surprised by a knock at the door and a socially distanced congratulations from one of the awards team. Representing Scotland’s hoteliers were Stephen Montgomery of the Townhouse Hotel in Lockerbie who picked up the Champion of the Licensed trade gong, while Brendan Crozier of the Georgian Hotel in Coatbridge won the Covid Pivot Award, The McKenzie family who run the Cathedral House Hotel won the Family Endeavour Award with Jonathan Gilbanks picking up the award for Best Restaurant for his Cairn Lodge Garden Room. Broughty Ferry’s Fort Hotel owner John Black is now the holder of the Kopparberg Best and Most Improved Outside Area accolade. and the Wm Grant & Sons Local Licensed Trade Hero, was awarded to Stuart McPhee of Siberia Bar & Hotel in Aberdeen, and Marion MacKinnon and Flora Grant of Ardsheil Hotel in Campbeltown were named the 2020 Deanston Whisky Gurus of the Year.
ICECREAM MASH UP AT CRIEFF HYDRO
Two of Scotland’s most iconic family brands - Crieff Hydro Hotel and Mackie’s have teamed up to bring a Christmas experience like no other to the Perthshire Hotel this festive season. The duo of businesses are serving up Turkey and cranberry ice cream which will allow visitors to the Hotel’s Glen’s Adventure Park to have their favourite dinner all in one scoop. The hotel’s vintage bus bar will also serve winter warmers including an exclusive Mackie’s Hot Chocolate made from its newest chocolate bar – orange. The cinder path will be transformed into a Gruffalo Trail, and an interactive treasure hunt will take place too. Solve all the clues and you will end up at Glen’s Adventure Park. Richard Leckie, 6th generation of the Leckie family who own Crieff Hydro Hotel, is Manager of Adventure Glen, he said, “Turkey and cranberry ice cream is something I have certainly never tried before and I am sure it will capture the imagination of our visitors this Christmas. It’s a great opportunity to bring something new to our festive season and who knows turkey ice cream could become an annual festive tradition. Karin Mackie, Marketing Director with Mackie’s of Scotland and one of three sibling owners, said, “This is a lovely opportunity to bring some much-needed Christmas cheer, combining some of life’s great simple pleasures, chocolate, ice cream and a walk in a beautiful setting. “While the turkey and cranberry ice cream is unlikely to be hitting freezer aisles any time soon, we’d love to know what visitors think!”
DM Hall is marketing a Grade A listed building in Glasgow’s Virginia Street with planning permission to develop an 18 room boutique hotel at the heart of the Merchant City.
The freehold interest of the circa 8,500 square foot property, which dates back as far as 1760 is for sale at offers over £1.33m.
The accommodation, arranged over five floors including basement, ground and three upper floors benefits from an attractive courtyard to the rear. Its current ownership have consistently maintained and upgraded the building since the early 1990s.
Full planning permission has been granted for bar and restaurant uses for the ground and basement as well as for 18 boutique style hotel rooms to be developed on the upper floors.
NATIVE TAKES OVER AT KINTORE HOUSE UK aparthotel brand Native has taken over the management of Edinburgh’s Kintore House on Queen Street. It opened recently and has 82 apartments comprising studios, one-bedrooms, and ground floor leisure and coworking space. Native will showcase its community-inspired ‘neighbourhood heroes’ and will partner with independent local businesses Native CEO and founder Guy Nixon said, “After opening in Glasgow in 2018, it was a natural step to head to the wonderful city of Edinburgh, building on our commitment to bring the Native concept to wider regions of the UK. We are excited to be operating in Scotland’s two greatest cities. “Even with the challenges of this year’s global Coronavirus pandemic, leisure demand for aparthotels has been buoyant in the months coming out of lockdown and we’re well placed to capture post-COVID demand.”
INVERNESS PROVES TO BE A HOT SPOT
Inverness has emerged as Scotland’s top destination for people looking to get away safely- and legally - from Coronavirus constraints. Amidst gloom and many high profile hospitality closures, the pull of the Highlands has remained steadfast, with Inverness bucking nationwide hotel occupancy trends last month. The latest STR hotel trends insights showed Inverness enjoying room occupancy levels of 70.7%, while Glasgow plummeted to 26.9% and Edinburgh’s 3 Star market dropped to only 30%. The impact of moving to tiered restrictions has been a hammer blow to urban hotels in the Central Belt but Inverness has been one of the areas least affected by the virus. Highland remains in Tier 1 and, despite many hotels in the Inverness having to trim and furlough staff in response to the earlier national lockdown, booking levels are creating optimism for Winter and Spring 2021. The October STR figures build on VisitScotland’s own consumer research and marketing data from summer and Autumn. Of those planning a winter trip between November and March 2021, the Highlands remains the number one choice of those living within Scotland and the wider UK, with Edinburgh in second place. Inverness’ popularity and the relatively low prevalence of Covid-19 has been good for visitors, too, with August average room prices (£77) almost half of what they were in August 2019 (£142). Emmanuel Moine, chairman ofInverness Hotels Association, believes that - where travel guidance allows - the city will be a safe and attractive option for visitors this Winter and into the first quarter of 2021. “The hotels in Inverness did a great deal, very early, to make sure visitors felt safe and able to enjoy everything the city and the highlands has to offer,” he said. “Obviously, although the Highlands is a very big area, geographically, the population is relatively small and this has given people confidence to come here.
Roach and Salve take over Dundee’s Taypark House Dundee’s Taypark House Hotel, located in the west end of Dundee, has joined the Crieff Hydro family as an associate hotel. The hotel is the first associated hotel of Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels and will now be operated by renowned executive head chef, Glenn Roach and his business partner William Salve. Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, working in partnership with the new proprieters will primarily support the hotel’s sales and marketing. This marks the first partnership of its kind for the group with more expected to follow. Glenn Roach – who built has a distringuished career as a chef was formerly head chef of the 3AA rosette Rocca Restaurant at the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel, St Andrews. He is not only executive head chef but General Manager too. Business partner, William Salve also formerly from the Rusacks Hotel in St Andrews will be leading the front of house team. Glenn said, “William and I are incredibly excited to be leading the team here at Taypark House Hotel and working alongside Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels as its first associated hotel. “It was the obvious next step in my career, and I believe we can learn a lot from the team at Crieff Hydro, so we are incredibly excited to see where this journey takes us. “We have the opportunity to do something extra special to cement its position and reputation here in Dundee.”
AUCHRANNIE GOES INTO HIBERNATION CLOSING UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY
Auchrannie Resort has closed and will not re-open until the end of January. Managing Director Linda Johnston revealed the news at the end of November saying it was impossible to trade viably following the introduction of the tier system. In a statement she said, “ The hospitality industry has spent vast sums on implementing safe systems to make sure we could open safely following the national lockdown. Arran businesses implemented Covid precautions responsibly and effectively and this was demonstrated during the four months from July 2020 when the island was able to trade effectively and welcomed large numbers of visitors without a single case of Covid-19.
“It is therefore with great sadness and regret that we announce the closure of the Resort until 29 January 2021. The travel and other restrictions in place since the introduction of the tier system on 2 November 2020, ever changing guidelines and uncertain times ahead make it impossible for the business to trade viably at this time.
“With the furlough in place, our team is protected, whilst closing the resort allows us to minimise costs and reduce risk by creating certainty instead of speculation in our cash flow projections. Having said that, we still need to cover very high fixed costs each month we are closed which run into 6 figures (for which we receive very little support) but we would face a much larger loss if we attempt to continue trading in the current situation.
“We understand the effect that this decision will have on guests, team members, the community, the supply chain and other businesses who rely on tourism over the winter. We are also sorry that we are unable to open our leisure facilities to the community and are acutely aware that this leaves the island with no indoor swimming or gym facility. Sadly, we have no choice, as the cost of opening is not sustainable for the business and we must make sure that Auchrannie emerges from the pandemic in good shape to welcome guests back and continue to support the Island and community as we have for the last 32 years. “During the closure, a small team will be retained to keep the resort safe and in tip top condition whilst our reservations department will remain available to answer any queries whilst we continue to take bookings on line and by phone for next year. “With the news of the vaccine, there is now light at the end of the tunnel and we know that with the right support and the chance to trade viably out of the pandemic, Auchrannie and Arran will emerge from this difficult, worrying and stressful period, as a better place to live, work and visit. “We’d like to thank everyone for their support and understanding throughout the pandemic including our own team members who have been inspirational throughout.”
SPIRITS SHOWCASE
One of the issues that hoteliers have, due to government restrictions, is the inability to sell alcohol in their bars and restaurants depending on what tier they are in. But you could be selling some Edinburgh Gin ‘Storybook’ gift packs to your guests. The five editions of Edinburgh Gin Storybooks are named after and themed around timeless titles including: Journey To The Centre of The Serve Olive or Twist, Paradise Found,The Winter’s Cocktail, and A Tale of Two Flavours. The gift pack also includes Edinburgh Gin’s range of London Drys, flavoured gin, and gin liqueurs, along with a variety of cocktail accoutrements. Bound in a luxurious casing with art deco cues, the Storybooks certainly have story to tell. One lucky person could find a ‘golden ticket’ in one of the sets completely at random. It can be used to redeem an original, first edition book - from titles such as 1984, The Savoy’s Cocktail Book, and more. Edinburgh Gin’s Storybooks are available UK-wide from EdinburghGin.com – with an RRP of £35 - £65. They include: Olive or Twist - £65 (1 x 70cl Classic, mixing jug, zester, spoon and measure); Journey To The Centre of The Serve - £55 (1 x 70cl Classic with 2 x copa glasses, cocktail recipe booklet); The Winter’s Cocktail - £35 (1 x 50cl Mulled Gin Liqueur, spice pouch and 2 x copa glasses) and A Tale of Two Flavours - £35. HIGHLAND RYE WHISKY LAUNCHES 1794
LIMITED RELEASE FROM EDEN MILL
Eden Mill has unveiled an exclusive limited edition 800 bottles of its 2020 Release Single Malt Scotch. The 2020 release is the fourth single malt whisky by Eden Mill in three years, since the unveiling of the first bottling in 2017 from their distillery just outside St Paul Miller, co-founder of Eden Mill said,“This limited release is a real reflection of the team, our passion and Eden Mill’s pioneering spirit which has stayed strong throughout 2020. We can’t wait for people to enjoy a dram of our 2020 Single Malt Scotch safely at home this festive season. “We anticipate the new year with excitement and hope as we look forward to the relief a vaccine will bring and also the completion of our new carbon neutral single malt distillery in St Andrews.”
Andrews.
Highland Rye whisky, the world’s only Rye Scotch Whisky, has launched its 2020 release as 1794 celebrating the Arbikie Distillery’s heritage back two hundred years on the east coast of Scotland. Following the successful launch of limited editions of Highland Rye in 2018 and 2019, the distillery is now launching its 1794 Highland Rye, its signature five-year-old rye that combines the unique use of rye with charred American oak. Unlike the previous limited-editions, 1794 was not finished in a further cask, but matured in lively, virgin oak casks creating a whisky with a nose of fresh cloves, nutmeg, Christmas cake spices, creamy butterscotch and a taste of cinnamon and a spicy burst tempered by sweet muscovado sugar and fresh honey.
