9 minute read
WHAT’S NEW
from Hotel Scotland
condition, these were used as moulds for reproduction items, including stone bartizans, ceiling plasterwork, stair balustrading and timber panelling.
It has of course one of the best views in Scotland and now guests can enjoy the views. By cleverly opening up the main reception floor, lighter, more open rooms now flow from bar to foyer and through to the library. Views are also able to flood in: for the first time, guests at check-in will be able to look out across Loch Lomond. By introducing external terraces where possible, guests also have their very own private viewing balconies.
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The improvements also extend to the leisure facilities which have been totally upgraded and there is also a sports bar called The Tavern which has a fabulous terrace, perfect for a relaxing drink after a workout!
There is no doubt about it Cameron House is back, and I’m sure guests past and present will be impressed by the marrying of the old and the new.
IAIN NICOLSON JOINS THE MACHRIE HOTEL
Iain Nicholson has been appointed head chef at 18 Restaurant and Bar at the Machrie hotel on Islay.
Scottish-born Nicholson was most recently head chef at the Vie Montagne restaurant in Verbier, Switzerland and has worked as sous chef at Albert Roux’s Scottish and London restaurants, including two-Michelin-starred Le Gavroche, and has also worked in the US and in France.
At the Machrie, Nicholson’s menu will use almost exclusively Scottish ingredients sourced from farmers, fisherman and crofters within a few miles of the hotel. He will also make the most of the island’s seafood and game with dishes designed to be as sustainable as possible”
Krzysztof Dudkowski joins The Three Chimneys as General Manager
The Wee Hotel Company has appointed Krzysztof Dudkowski as General Manager of The Three Chimneys on Skye.
Krzysztof joins from the Fife Arms in Braemar and will be responsible for managing and overseeing the multi award-winning restaurant with rooms.
Krzysztof began his journey in hospitality in Edinburgh with IHG followed by Dakota Hotels in Glasgow.
A strong background in F&B puts him in good stead to join The Three Chimneys, which has built its reputation as one of Scotland’s most famous restaurants.
Krzysztof will work closely alongside Head Chef Scott Davies who continues to ensure the menu showcases the very best of Scotland, whilst providing guests with a warm welcome and a genuine Scottish experience.
Gordon Campbell Gray, Founder of The Wee Hotel Company says:,“We’re delighted that Krzysztof and has family have joined us on Skye as we plan for the next chapter in the life of The Three Chimneys.”
TOM GIBSON MOVES WEST TO VIRGIN
After six years at the helm of The Glasshouse in Edinburgh Tom Gibson is moving West next month to take over the new role of General Manager at the Virgin Hotels Glasgow which is due to open next Easter.
Ignacio Sans garcia takes over as General Manager at The Glasshouse moving from his Operations Manages role.
Said Tom, “I wouldn’t be leaving unless the opportunity was a fantastic one.”
NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF FOR MELDRUM HOUSE
Alan Clarke has joined Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course in Oldmeldrum, as its new Executive Chef.
Aged 30 and originally from Forres, Clarke forged his career path when he won the Chef’s UK Accor Challenge Award for Britain, aged only 21. He then honed his skills under Shirley Spear, the renowned previous owner of The Three Chimneys in Skye, helping them retain their 3 AA Rosettes. Since then he has been Head Chef at two Aberdeenshire hotels and brings 14 years of experience to his new role.
Clarke explained;,“The Executive Chef role at Meldrum House is a job I’ve always aspired to. I look forward to building on the hotel’s reputation and putting my own flair on the menus with my take on Scottish produce with a French twist. I’m also looking forward to working with Operations Manager Nicola Downie and her established front of house team to continue making it one of Aberdeenshire’s top foodie destinations.
General Manager Jordan Charles commented; “We’re delighted that Alan has joined our talented team, working on our established gateto-plate dining experience. The last few months since re-opening from lockdown has seen one of the busiest periods in the hotel’s history and we want to continue to build on that. Alan is a highly regarded and innovative chef which makes for an exciting chapter ahead for the hotel.”
BY NICOLA YOUNG
New Research by Barclays Corporate Banking makes for some interesting reading for the Hotel sector that could be worth £32.7bn from safety, hygiene, wellness and sustainable credentials alone.
The report, called Leisure Rediscovered, covers all of the leisure and hospitality sector in the UK and shows that overall the sector is thriving. Operators across the sector reveal that revenue jumped by an average of more than 25% over 2019 levels and they predict a rise to one third for the remainder of 2021.
In terms of the contribution of the wider industry to the nations GDP, it is expected to add £3.5bn to GDP in 2021 rising to £9.2bn next year. Restaurants and food outlets account for £1bn of the growth followed by hotels at £0.8bn.
The big winners are cafe’s and food outlets - including restaurants - holiday parks and vacation rentals. Regionally, London amounts for 30% of the overall growth with the West Midlands at 18%, Wales 13% and Scotland lagging behind at 3.5%.
Confidence is high in the broad sector with 94% of business confident about business growth this year, with a third who are very confident. Gym and leisure centre managers are most likely to be very confident (45%), with cafés and spas/wellness retreats (both 42%) also especially positive. Hotels, although confident of growth, are the most cautions of all with 16% of hotel owners describing themselves as ‘not too confident’. It is reasonable to assume that this is due to the current staffing issues across the board.
The good news for hotels is that the report highlights the strength of the staycation market and this is set to continue throughout 2022. 45% of adults said that they were more likely to holiday in the UK and the Scottish Highlands remains one of the top 3 destinations with Edinburgh popular as a City break.
Although the staycation is most popular across all age groups it is strongest amongst those over 45 (48%). As the staycation market grows, those changing their mind and now preferring the UK to overseas trips tend to be women over 55.
The research has also looked into what holiday-makers are looking for and there are some notable changes as a result of the pandemic and the healthy leisure experience goes well beyond infection control. Lockdown has made consumers much more aware of physical and mental health.
Of note is the comment from operators that the ESG acronym (Environmental, Social, Governance) should also contain an H for Health with 9 out of 10 operators saying that health and wellbeing products were becoming a priority since the pandemic.
This new report underlines this imperative and shows that consumers are prepared to pay almost 20% more for healthier food and drink options and almost 18% more for holiday accommodations that includes health or well-being services such as a gym or spa.
The Barclays Wellness Imperative report from earlier this year had already identified a potential £21.1bn revenue boost by 2023 for leisure providers that are able to incorporate wellness into their offerings.
In terms of health and hygiene standards, almost a quarter of consumers now place a high value on good safety and hygiene standards in their accommodations. Although 38% would not be prepared to pay a premium for this reassurance, younger people are particularly concerned. 41% of those 16-24 would pay a premium for these assurances while those over 55 would only pay just over 9% more. Like Health and Wellness the average premium that consumers would pay is 20%. This would represent a £6bn revenue lift to accommodation providers.
Sustainable credentials also remains high on the minds of younger consumers. Those 16-24 would be prepared to pay a premium of 39% for strong credentials and those 25-35 would pay 32% more. The average premium across all age groups is 20% for a sustainable holiday experience but, as with safety and hygiene, the willingness to pay a premium declines with age. The value of these preferences alone is not insignificant - they were calculated to be worth £5.6bn to accommodation providers.
Outside of health and travel the report also highlights the growth in importance of local partnerships. 88% of operators said that they were offering joint deals more often than they did in 2019 and this initiative is lead by almost all holiday and caravan parks, nightclubs (96%) and spas and wellness centres (90%).
The pandemic has also resulted in a polarisation of experience for consumers - many amassed significant savings during the pandemic while many saw their savings dwindle.
Those that were able to make significant savings are spending and this has meant that many operators have found customers are willing to splash out on premium experiences with many expecting the luxury market to broaden further. The taste for luxury was particularly noted by holiday parks (55%), hotels (51%), bars (49%), spas (46%) ad holiday lets (45%).
Finally, the report found that more than four in 10 firms plan to add new outlets. This represents a significant leap in growth plans over the position a year earlier. For example, Travelodge, which is opening 17 new UK hotels this year, is among the 47% of hotel groups which have expansion plans. And the resurgence in gym membership has triggered a race for new space by 41% of leisure clubs.
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