CRIEFF HYDRO FAMILY COMMITS TO NEW CHARITY PARTNERSHIP WITH SCAA

Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, has revealed its charity partner for 2023/24 is Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) which provides life-saving services to communities in every corner of Scotland.

Over the next 12 months the group will raise funds for the charity. Fundraising will be encouraged amongst hotel employees across the Crieff Hydro’s eight properties, as well as by encouraging guests who pass through its doors throughout the year to contribute. There are already a number of activities earmarked to kick off fundraising.

The hotel group’s big-hearted employees have a fantastic fundraising track record, having raised thousands for a variety of both local and national charities throughout the years.

Stephen Leckie, Chairman and CEO of Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, said, “It’s vitally important for us to support those most in need through charity fundraising, and we’re very much looking forward to embarking on this new partnership with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance. The dedication and skill of the pilots and paramedics involved is phenomenal and their life saving efforts makes SCAA a perfect fit for our charity partner of the year.”

SCAA CEO, David Craig, said, “We are immensely grateful to Stephen Leckie and the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels for choosing SCAA as their charity partner this year. The generosity shown by hotel employees and guests visiting their properties will undoubtedly help save lives as we respond to emergencies across Scotland, 365 days a year.

“SCAA’s life-saving service is only possible thanks to the ongoing support of the individuals, businesses and organisations of Scotland and partnerships like this with the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels help to fly us into the future, ensuring we are there for the people of Scotland when we are needed most.”

“It’s an honour for us to have been recognised by our guests as ‘Best of the Best’ in Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards for the fourth consecutive year. Our team is committed to offering a world-class visitor experience for all our guests.”

MacLaurin takes over at Ullapool hotel

The 54-bedroom Royal Hotel in Ullapool, overlooking the West Highlands town’s harbour, has been sold to local operator Alan MacLaurin, who also owns the Harbour House in the town.

Property consultant Graham + Sibbald, which concluded the sale following a “confidential marketing campaign” of what it described as “one of the premier luxury hotels in the Scottish Highlands”, said the “sale price and details are undisclosed”.

Peter Seymour, a director with Graham + Sibbald, said, “This is one of a number of hotel sales we have completed under a confidential marketing campaign recently. The buyers are a local operator who we know intend to invest in the hotel and drive the business to new highs. We wish them all the best with their excellent purchase.”

The 54-bedroom hotel, with restaurant, public bar and a function suite, overlooks the Ullapool Harbour and picturesque mountains beyond, wasoriginally a coaching inn.

SURGEON’S QUARTER BECOMES LIVING PENSION EMPLOYER

Surgeons Quarter, owned by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), has become the UK’s first business in hospitality to be recognised as a Living Pension employer as it leads the way with its implementation of numerous workplace benefits.

The business which promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the RCSEd campus including facilities for conferences, meetings, private events, parties, weddings and its own four-star hotel Ten Hill Place as well as Café 1505 and SQ Travel, has been recognised by the Living Wage Foundation (LWF) for ensuring that all 159 members of staff are contributing at least 12% of their salary towards their pension. 7.5% of that comes from the employer - 4.5% more than the required minimum.

Surgeons Quarter offers industry-leading pay comfortably above the £10.90 per hour LWF Living Wage, as well as a 50% staff discount at all Best Western Hotels, access to an employee assistance programme, Bike2Work scheme, complimentary gym membership and discount cards.

Scott Mitchell, Managing Director of Surgeons Quarter, said, “Hospitality is not a sector that is renowned for its pay and conditions and we want to be at the forefront of changing that.

“Vital hardworking staff are rewarded appropriately – but not factoring in a pension is only stacking up problems for the future.

“We are incredibly proud to be the first business in the industry to be accredited as a Living Pension employer, but it’s important we don’t stop here and strive to keep improving our offering to our talented teams.

“This is why we offer numerous opportunities and reward schemes to all of our staff members to not only benefit them at work, but also outside of the office.”

Director of the Living Wage Foundation, Katherine Chapman said, “We are delighted that Surgeons Quarter are the first hospitality business to sign up to be a Living Pension Employer, providing stability and security for their workers now and in the future.

“Over the last ten years the Living Wage campaign has grown in strength and numbers. Now paid by over 12,500 employers, it delivers essential pay rises to 430,000 workers every year.

“The Living Pension builds on this by encouraging employers to do more to help their workers build a pension pot that meets basic everyday needs in retirement.”

Meanwhile Surgeons Quarter – has also revisited a 518 year legacy by collaborating with Edinburgh’s Summerhall Distillery who have created a bespoke whisky collection the Surgeons Quarter’s 1505 collection. The result is a careful blend of premium whiskies matured in 100% American oak ex-bourbon casks. Scott Mitchell, Managing Director, said: “Our 1505 gin and ale range is extremely popular but we felt the line-up was missing something, so we are delighted to partner with our near neighbours at Summerhall to produce our own 1505 whisky. hundreds of years that we can now present our own.”