Hotel Scotland

HOTELSCOTLAND 041

ISSN 2515-8287

INTERVIEW:

TOM LEWIS

MONACHYLE MHOR DESIGN: THE MEADOWPARK

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CONTENTS

4 NEWS 9 STUART RIDDLE

11 TECH

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WELCOME

ast month I caught up with Tom Lewis, one of the owners of Monachyle Mhor in Balquhidder.

We go back many years and it was great to talk and find out how the business was faring. See what he has to say on page 16.

Technology has never been so important, particularly as the industry is suffering the worst recruitment shortages in memory. Nicola Young explores just some of the clever tech that can help you drive revenues. It’s on page 11, and will be the first of many features.

We have plenty of news this issue - there’s is certainly lots going on.

Check out the new rooms at The Meadowpark in Bridge of Allan, and The Torrance Hotel’s wedding suite. Meanwhile Crerar Hotels have been busy creating wonderful new spa’s. We also feature the newly re-imagined Marine Hotel.

Next month we will take a look at the new Archiestown Hotel 1881.

Until then.

Susan Young Editor

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TOM LEWIS

14 HIT GOLF DAY 18 INTERVIEW: TOM LEWIS

22 DESIGN:

THE MEADOWPARK THE TORRANCE COAST SPA MARINE HOTEL

22 IO

28 LISINI CELEBRATE

STUART RIDDLE

24

THE MEADOWPARK

HOTELSCOTLAND Published by Media World limited t: 01560 600585 e: news@mediaworldltd.com w: hotelmagazinescotland.co.uk

susan@mediaworldltd.com @hotel_scotland hotelmagazinescotland.co.uk

Editor: Susan Young Editorial: Nicola Young, Penny Devlin, Alastair Roy Advertising: Sylvia Forsyth Commercial Manager: Nikki Oji Admin: Rebecca Orr

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HOTELSCOTLAND • 3

Aberdeen Hotelier becomes Master Innholder EASDALES HOTEL PLAN FOR WATT BROTHERS STORE Sandy and James Easdale, the owners of McGills Buses, have submitted plans to Glasgow City Council for the redevelopment of the Watt Brothers store which they bought following its administration in 2019.

The brothers plan to turn the art-deco style building into a 125-room boutique hotel.

Architect Douglas McConville of Silverfern Consultancy has drawn up plans for the 80,000 sq ft listed building, which dates back to 1914.

Sandy Easdale said, “We wanted a classy design that would maximise the use of the huge site but would not compromise the unique character of the original building.

“The building benefits from brilliant art deco features and this will play a part in its rejuvenation.”

James Easdale added, “We are also acutely aware of the strategic shortage of hotel room supply in Glasgow and we feel this is a stepping stone on the way to restoring Glasgow to the great shopping and leisure centres like Edinburgh and other great English cities.”

S

tephen Gow, General Manager of The Chester Hotel in Aberdeen has become the only Scottish hotelier to be welcomed into the Master Innholders and he is one of only four new Master Innholders in 2022.

In addition to his ‘day job’, Stephen Gow is chairman of Hospitality Apprenticeship North East and chairman of the Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards, as well as vice-chair of Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association, founder-director of VisitAberdeen and committee member of Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland’s Grampian council. He is currently involved in the creation of an apprenticeship for chefs to combat the current shortages of staff across the North East of Scotland. He is known for his drive for hospitality professionals to combine and share collective learnings.

Stephen says, “The Master Innholders is a prestigious force within the hotel sector and

is recognised as a standard bearer for the hospitality industry. There is no doubt that the hospitality industry is a highly competitive environment, but there is also a huge degree of support between hoteliers to support each other and their local economy. I am honoured to take a role in giving back to the industry in which I’ve worked since leaving school and to play a part in encouraging the next generation of talent.”

Commenting on the new Master Innholders, David Morgan-Hewitt FIH MI, chairman of the Master Innholders said: “I am immensely proud to welcome these four new members to the Master Innholders. Each has shown overwhelming passion and dedication for hospitality and are making valuable contributions not only to their own hotels, but to the industry as a whole. Congratulations to each of our new Master Innholders!”

The Inver Hotel in Caithness, part of the North Coast 500 route, if offering to help guests with rising petrol and diesel costs if they book a room on their website. They are taking 16% off the price of their usual rate “to go towards your fuel” at the time of booking if guests include their car registration plate number.

4 • HOTELSCOTLAND

STEPHEN GOW

NEWS TRIGONY HOUSE HOTEL GOES ALL OUT TO ATTRACT DOG LOVERS Dumfries and Galloway Hotel Trigony House has introduced dog training as one of the services on offer at the hotel.

Having been dog friendly for more than 20 years owner Adam Moore says, “WE are always looking for ways of adding extra services for our geusts and their four-legged friends.

“In the past these have ranged from dog reiki therapy to doggy breakfast menus.

Our latest venture has been really exciting and involes offering in-house training courses for our guests and their dogs.

“We have partnered with a brilliant local trainer, Kirsten Collins, whose enthusiams, love for dogs and communication skills have proved really pouplar with our guests and their dogs, and we’ve seen great results from our two-day course.

We’ve only just started on this latest venture but it’s already attracting new guests to the hotel.”

Planning Approvals for Hospitality Projects in Scotland lead the UK

T

he March Super Sectors report from construction industry intelligence provider, Barbour ABI, highlights some positive trends in the Scottish construction industry and shows that the pipeline for Scotland’s Hospitality Construction sector is the healthiest in the UK. Scotland topped the Barbour ABI Super Sectors report for the value of planning applications approved in the hotel, leisure & sport construction sector for the 2nd month running. Projects valued at £222m were given the green light in March, more than double the £92m worth of applications approved in March. This is a clear indication that the hospitality sector in Scotland is beginning to rebound after the pandemic and there is a strong pipeline of projects in the sector.

Tom Hall, Chief Economist at Barbour ABI said, “The data for March indicates the construction industry in Scotland will continue to be strong for the short-tomedium term. The UK topping value of planning approvals in the Hotels, Leisure

& Sport construction sector suggests that Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic is now beginning to take off following the final easing of restrictions, which was later than in the rest of the UK”.

The Super Sectors report is a monthly examination of Planning Application Approvals and Contract Awards by sector and region, and examines planning approvals as well as contract awards. It shines a light on the current and likely short-term future of the industry in each region. audiences are the highest spenders, especially visitors from long haul destinations to Scotland. Growing our international market is even more important as we approach our EU exit date; Scotland can no longer rely on the European and domestic market to grow a healthy visitor economy, one which is currently constrained.

“Also being as attractive as possible for international investment and open, competitive and accessible in this way is crucial for the long-term growth of Scotland’s wider economy as all communities benefit from tourism and many rely on it.”

NEW OWNERS SOUGHT FOR THE FORTINGALL Fortingall Hotel has been put up for sale by its owners, Robbie and Mags Cairns, who have now taken over another business interest on the Moray Coast.

The hotel, near Aberfeldy in rural Perthshire, is a Historic Scotland Grade B Listed “Arts and Crafts” property providing accommodation of 11 Letting Bedrooms, Dining Room, Lounge, Library, Private Dining/Function Room, atmospheric local’s Bar, Staff Cottage, Private Flat and sizeable garden area.

Alistair Letham, a Hotel Consultant with Graham + Sibbald, who are handling the sale commented; “The Fortingall Hotel is a beautiful and unspoilt location which itself is steeped in history. The hotel has much to offer the leisure visitor and locals alike. Whilst an already established business, the hotel has excellent potential for growth, particularly for resident owners.”

Graham + Sibbald are inviting Offers around £1,000,000 for the Fortingall Hotel.

Rox Hotel Aberdeen to reopen after acquisition The 4-star 32-bedroom Rox Hotel in Aberdee’s Market Street is set to reopen after being purchased for an undisclosed sum as a joint venture by the Singaporebased company Seacare Hospitality along with Compass Hospitality. The hotel had been on the market for £2m.

Compass is one of Southeast Asia’s fastestgrowing hospitality management companies, managing and operating a wide portfolio of 50 hospitality properties across all market segments. The Rox Hotel is the company’s 7th Hotel in Scotland and 17th in the UK. Its other Scottish hotels are located in Dundee, Dumfries, Glasgow, Inverness and Perth.

Chye Teen Lim CEO of Seacare Hospitality said, “We are thrilled to welcome the Rox Hotel Aberdeen into our diverse portfolio of projects and to once again be collaborating with Compass Hospitality. We are confident that this will be another profitable venture into the robust and enduring UK hospitality sector”.

Harmil Singh, CEO of Compass Hospitality added, “The addition of this delightful 4-star property to our expanding UK hotel portfolio demonstrates our confidence, particularly in the Scottish hospitality market, and we continue to look forward optimistically to further growth in this area.”

HOTELSCOTLAND • 5

HIGHLAND COAST HOTELS TAKES OVER AT THE PLOCKTON INN

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ighland Coast Hotels, the Highlands-based hotel company, has acquired the 14-room Plockton Inn and its adjoining seafood restaurant.

Plockton Inn joins the four hotels acquired by the group last year; Kylesku Hotel, Newton Lodge, Unapool, the Royal Golf Hotel Dornoch and the Royal Marine Hotel Brora. The Plockton Inn will retain its name and become part of the Highland Coast Hotels Collection.

Founded in spring 2021, Highland Coast Hotels is investing in and developing independentlyowned hotels in the region and supporting local communities and suppliers.

Highland Coast Hotels Chairman, David Whiteford (pictured, left) comments, “We are absolutely delighted to be acquiring The Plockton Inn, one of the West Coast’s best-loved hotels.

“It’s a daunting prospect to be picking up the baton from Kenny and Mary Gollan and Susan Trowbridge, who have nurtured and developed the hotel into such a landmark in this beautiful part of the world. However, with a clear focus on working closely with the local communities around our properties, and investing back into the local economy, we very much hope we can

add even further value to the hotel and the surrounding area.

“We will continue to operate the hotel on a year-round basis, and expect to create further permanent employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly through our support of local producers and activity providers Whilst it’s early days, we have exciting plans for the hotel which we anticipate will undergo a substantial refurbishment this coming winter.’’

The group is now setting up a Community Liaison Group in Plockton which will act as a forum for locals to give feedback on the Group’s plans. Anybody living within a 15-mile radius of the Plockton Inn will also be eligible for the new Highland Coast Hotels Community Card which provides a 30% discount in its restaurants and bars, all year round, and a 50% discount off an overnight stay at any hotel, from October to March.

Highland Coast Hotels are inviting suppliers and experience providers in the local area to get in touch.The group aims to offer opportunities for those companies to expand and develop with the potential for new businesses to be created in and around Plockton which, in turn, should create further tourism and hospitality careers. .

Jurys Inn to rebrand as Leonardo Hotels Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland, have announced that it is to rebrand its Jurys Inn hotels to Leonardo Hotels as part of its ambitious growth strategy by the end of this year.

Jurys Inn joined the Fattal Hotel Group in 2017 and has been operating under the Jurys Inn and Leonardo brand across the UK and Ireland since then. The Fattal Hotel Group has a well-established portfolio of over 200 superior, boutique and life-style hotels that have been successfully rolled out in over 100 destinations in Europe and Israel and has been active across Europe since 2006.

The group, which operates 35 Jurys Inn hotels in the UK and Ireland, and 16 hotels under the Leonardo brand, aim to transition Jurys Inn to Leonardo Hotels and combine its key elements with the existing Leonardo brand identity and to grow the 4* and 4* superior hotel group in corporate, leisure and M&E across the UK and Ireland, adding to its overall European strategy.

Jason Carruthers, Managing Director of Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland says: “We believe that the most effective way to achieve our exciting ambitions and growth plans for the business is to rebrand Jurys Inn to the Leonardo brand – combining the key elements of the Jurys Inn operating platform with the existing Leonardo brand design and expanding reputation.”

The Group is also in the process of developing several new and existing sites across the UK. Plans are progressing in Edinburgh’s Old Town for a new 125-bedroom boutique NYX Hotel next year and a 100-bedroom extension to the rebranded Leonardo Hotel that it connects with.

6 • HOTELSCOTLAND

VENTURE NORTH MAKES NEW BOARD APPOINTMENTS Two community and tourism leaders from Sutherland have been appointed to the board of Venture North, David Watson, 49, manager of the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust, and Jo Wyke, 43, owner of Melvich Hotel on the north coast of Sutherland, have both joined the board of Venture North, the destination management organisation that promotes responsible tourism in the far north Highlands of Scotland.

David, a native of Sutherland, has more than 20 years of experience working in Economic and Community Development across the Highlands and Islands after working as a Senior Development Manager as well as the Economic Development Manager for the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

Jo Wyke from the Melvich Hotel has also re-joined, having been a founder member of the organisation back in 2013 and was instrumental in the success of the Venture North Discovery Series marketing campaign in 2015.

Jo Wyke said, “I’m delighted to re-join the Venture North board and participate in shaping the future of tourism for Caithness and Sutherland. Venture North has been prolific in raising the profile of our beautiful area and in supporting and representing businesses who work within the industry here in these counties.”

NEWS

Opening date set for Gleneagles Townhouse

Tripadvisor accolades for Scots hotels Two Scottish properties No 26 by the Sea in Oban and Ivybank Lodge in Blairgowrie are among the highest-ranking places to stay in the World according to travellers who have ranked them on Tripadvisor.

No 26 came at number 25 as one of the Hottest New Places in the World to stay while Ivybank Lodge ranked 11 in Best Small stays in the World. When it came to best in the UK - Scotland’s only luxury floating hotel, Fingal, sailed into the 20th annual Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards for the third year running and came in at number 11 on the prestigious Tripadvisor category of most ‘Dreamy stays that couples love’.

While The Green Park Hotel in Pitlochry was ranked No 2 in the UK and The Lodge on Loch Goil, Loch Goil ranked ahead of Claridges and many other better-known luxury hotels.

The 2022 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards are based on the quality and quantity of traveller reviews and ratings posted on TripAdvisor over the 12-month period from 1st January 2021 until 31st December 2021.

Now in the 20th year of the Travelers’ Choice Awards for Hotels are based on travel reviews and ratings posted on Tripadvisor throughout 2021. This year’s awards include 11 subcategories of accommodations, including the Hottest New Hotels category.

The Travelers’ Choice Awards recognize the

hotels they loved most. With millions listed on Tripadvisor around the world, only the cream of the crop - less than 1% - are awarded as the Best of the Best.

No 26 has nine guest bedrooms and is decorated with contemporary art and rustic furnishings while Ivybank Lodge has six luxury bedrooms.

Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer, Tripadvisor. “We know there is not a onesize-fits-all approach to travel planning. Some travellers are looking for unique stays - ranging from cave hotels to overwater bungalows while others are looking for a quaint B&B.” The No. 1 Top Hotel in the entire world for 2022 was Tulemar Bungalows & Villas in Costa Rica and in the United States, The Mark Hotel in New York City ranked No. 1 in the country for 2022.

The Top 10 Hotels in the World were: Hotel Colline de France - Gramado, Brazil Ikos Aria - Kefalos, Greece Romance Istanbul Hotel - Istanbul, Turkey THE OMNIA - Zermatt, Switzerland Kayakapi Premium Caves - Cappadocia Urgup, Turkey Six Senses Laamu - Olhuveli Island, Maldives Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort Hopkins, Belize Padma Resort Ubud - Payangan, Indonesia BLESS Hotel Madrid - Madrid, Spain

Monday 6th June is the official opening date for the much anticipated Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh.

The 33-bedroom hotel, the first venture outside of Perthshire for the Gleneagles Hotel, will offer a members’ club and all-day restaurant, at 39 St Andrew Square.

The Townhouse and its all-day restaurant, The Spence, will open exclusively to members and hotel resident guests for the opening period before the wider public is invited to experience the venue in early summer.

Over the last five years, Ennismore Design Studio has painstakingly restored the listed building which was originally home to the British Linen Company before later becoming the Bank of Scotland. building.

At the heart of this notable building lies The Spence – an airy, social space which will offer modern style brasserie-dining which is led by Head Chef Jonny Wright, who returns to his native Scotland with over 16 years of experience. Within The Spence, a central bar sits underneath an extraordinary glass-domed ceiling serving up a seasonally rotating, locally inspired list of cocktails, local whiskies, beers, spirits, and wine curated by bar manager, Stefanie Anderson.

Meanwhile, down in the bank’s former vault, Townhouse resident guests and members will have access to a dedicated training, treatments and therapies space – The Strong Rooms – which will open later in June.

The Members’ Lounge and Members’ Snug offer two exclusive spaces designed for various purposes from meetings to relaxed wine tasting events.

The roof terrace bar Lamplighters is exclusive to members and offers impressive views of the city’s medieval Old Town to the left and New Town to the right.

HOTELSCOTLAND • 7

NEWS

FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS LENDS SUPPORT TO THE HAMISH FOUNDATION

THE BALMORAL RETAINS FIVE STARS For the second year running, The Balmoral has received a five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide and it remains the only hotel in Scotland to hold this fivestar rating from the global travel magazine.

General Manager Richard Cooke said, “We are again truly humbled to be recognised with one of the most sought-after hospitality awards in the world, for the second year running.

Throughout all the challenges faced by the hospitality industry over the last two years, the ladies and gentlemen of The Balmoral have shown resilience, agility and remarkable passion for our guests. We continuously strive day after day to evolve and improve the experiences offered to those guests. It’s a truly wonderful accolade to fly the flag for Scotland, being currently the only Scottish hotel to receive the

Forbes Five-Star rating in 2022.”

Hermann Elger, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide, “Travel has come back strongly, and the resilient hospitality industry is creatively rallying to accommodate the increased occupancy demand for most regions. While the industry faces some lingering issues, the 2022 award winners proved ready for those challenged and more, demonstrating the best that luxury hospitality has to offer.”

A gold standard in the hospitality industry since 1958, Forbes Travel Guide’s luxury travel rating recognises the world’s finest properties.

Anonymous inspectors check into a hotel for at least two nights, then test up to 900 objective standards with an emphasis on exceptional service, to help discerning travellers select the world’s best luxury experiences.

Fairmont St Andrews has pledged its support to local charity initiative, The Hamish Foundation, to help fundraising efforts for a beach walkway and viewing platform at West Sands for those with limited mobility.

The iconic venue started adding a £1 discretionary charge to each guest bill in April, with all proceeds going directly to the Hamish Foundation.

The new beach walkway, currently under construction at West Sands beach in the town of St Andrews, will allow those who have limited mobility, such as people with MS or wheelchair users, to access the world-famous beach safely and with greater ease.

Working alongside the Hamish Foundation to create the walkway is St Andrews Links Trust (SALT), Fife Coast and Countryside Trust (FCCT) and the Fife Environment Trust.

The walkway is set to be completed by the end of May, just in time for visitors arriving for the 150th Open Tournament in July.

Lorraine Garvie, Commercial Director at Fairmont St Andrews, said, “It is fantastic to be playing a part in supporting the wonderful Hamish Foundation, whose work continues to assist and enhance the lives of children and families based in St Andrews, Fife and our visitors from all over the world.

“We are so pleased to be part of such a meaningful project which will continue to make St Andrews more safe and accessible for both visitors and the local community.”

BAM set to deliver interiors of W Edinburgh BAM Construction Scotland is to deliver the interiors of the 12 storey W Edinburgh hotel at St James Quarter. The contractor will fit the 244 guest rooms and public areas across the three buildings that make up the hotel after been appointed by Nuveen Real Estate.

Keppie Design has now been appointed as delivery architect by BAM to integrate its design solutions and assist with full 3D coordination of the design.

The 244 guest rooms include 42 suites and one Extreme Wow Suite (the W brand’s Presidential Suite). The rooftop will feature a SUSHISAMBA restaurant with its unique blend of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian culture and cuisine, an outdoor terrace the W Lounge (the W brand’s hotel lobby), a signature restaurant, a W Sound Suite (a writer’s room and music studio), FIT - a workout facility and an AWAY Spa. BAM’s recent work has included the V&A Dundee and the Johnnie Walker Experience and it is both developer and contractor behind Atlantic Square (Glasgow) and Capital Square (Edinburgh).

Jim Ward, regional director, BAM Construction 8 • HOTELSCOTLAND

Scotland, added, “This is a prestigious, striking, and high-quality development for Scotland. BAM’s work on the Johnnie Walker Experience and V&A Dundee shows we have the pedigree and credentials to deliver such ambitious schemes.

“During the pre-construction period, our team has brought our customary collaborative approach to bear in helping de-risk and develop the design while forming a strong relationship with our partners. It is going to be as exciting to build as it will be to stay here when we complete our work.”

Edward Webb, Director of Development Management at Nuveen Real Estate, said: “We are delighted with the appointment of BAM and excited to be moving forward at pace with the interiors of W Edinburgh. The hotel is a complex fit-out across three very different buildings and architecture, and the experience of BAM will ensure the highest quality and efficiency can be delivered to enable the hotel to open in late 2023. W Edinburgh will redefine the city’s hospitality scene with its design, signature amenities and a full calendar of immersive W Happenings to complement the festival city.”

NEWS STUART RIDDLE

Hotelier Stuart Riddle expands hospitality portfolio and invests in the Woodside Hotel, Doune

S

tuart Riddle along with his wife Joanna have over the last nine years established a portfolio of pubs, restaurants, and hotels and their latest venture is the £1,200,000 renovation of The Woodside in Doune due to open late July 2022.

Stuart who started his career working as a Commis Chef in the kitchens of AA Rosette-awarded Hotels had a successful career with national pub/restaurant groups before starting his portfolio. He became head chef at the 2 AA Rosette Dunain Park Country House Hotel (aged 25) before going on to impress in various roles including, Menu Development Manager at the Spirit Group, Catering Controller at Bellhaven Pubs and finally as Head of Food Development (premium) at Greene King.

Says Stuart, “My now wife and I had talked about having a restaurant when I was a young chef and she worked as a restaurant manager in the late 1990s, but we didn’t feel it was realistic and wouldn’t have known where to start.”

However in 2013, they took the plunge and Stuart and Joanna started their first hospitality company and embarked on a £700,000 development of the Stirling Arms to create “The Riverside - pub, kitchen & coffee house”.

“After a successful career in the corporate world and surviving several redundancy scares and numerous restructures we felt we would like to be masters of our

own destiny. We also felt that we could do it better than the nationals. At that point, I was 36, I handed back my company car keys and we created The Riverside” says Stuart.

The Riverside was heavily remodelled to offer a modern 140 cover venue while still retaining the best of its heritage features. Situated on the river in the heart of Dunblane, the new Riverside was a victory, with locals embracing the refurb.

After the success of their Riverside venture, the pair invested £1,200,000 renovating The Allan Park Hotel in 2018.

Located in Stirling, it was renamed “The Allan Park - pub, restaurant & coffee house w/ rooms” and transformed into a contemporary 120 cover venue with 8 letting rooms.

In November of 2021 they took ownership of their third property,The Woodside Hotel now known simply as “The Woodside”.The Woodside is located in the heart of the Forth Valley and is being heavily developed to offer a modern 140 cover venue.The opening of which is scheduled for late July 2022.

The Woodside will be accessible to residents and non-residents alike and will feature a pub, coffee house, restaurant, terrace dining, 11 letting rooms and a function suite. Renovation costs for the property are expected to reach £1,200,000.

The 3 sites will have a combined turnover of more than £3,500,000 and employ circa 90 staff. .

HOTELSCOTLAND • 9

NEWS Fairmount St Andrews extends accommodation offering ahead of the Open Fairmont St Andrews now offers exclusive glamping.

Due to unprecedented demand for accommodation ahead of the 150th Open Championships set to take place in the ‘home of golf ’ this summer, Fairmont St Andrews has opened bookings for its ‘old school’ air stream and bell tent glamping experiences over the final days of the Open. t is the first time the iconic Fife coastal resort has expanded its accommodation offering beyond the front door of the venue, with the glamping caravans and tents only available to reserve over the weekend of Friday 15th to Monday 18th July.

The hotel has also relaunched its summer food and drink offerings, including the Cocktail Terrace with expanded seating and a new menu – featuring Fairmont’s first-ever gin created in partnership with local distillery, Darnley’s.

Priced at £2,400 for a three-night stay in the air stream, or £1,350 for the same number of nights in the bell tent, the new accommodation is expected to be popular.

CAMERON HOUSE STAR RECOGNISED IN UK ‘30 UNDER 30’ ACORN AWARDS Cameron House Resort has revealed that its Training and Development Manager, Laura Dunphy, has been recognised as one of the most inspiring young leaders in the UK hospitality sector after she was named a winner in The Caterer Acorn Awards 2022.

Now in its 36th year, the Acorn Awards shine a light on the brightest prospects of the industry by appointing an annual ‘30 under 30’ of the finest hospitality stars, nominated by their peers.

Laura, from Glasgow, began her career as a Banqueting Server at Cameron House while at school. She continued working at the resort through her university studies before graduating and joining the Hotels’ Graduate programme in Manchester then latterly the Blythswood Hotel in Glasgow.

She worked her way through the ranks, holding numerous HR roles, before being recruited back to Cameron House in 2021.

She was first tasked with creating a new 10 • HOTELSCOTLAND

training strategy to elevate the hotel’s service to match its world-class offering, and rolled out the ‘Clan Welcome’, a three-day induction programme for new starts. In the 12 months since she was recruited, Laura has trained 75 new department trainers, resulting in over 15,000 hours of training.

Since coming on board at Cameron House on Loch Lomond, she has increased applications to the hotel’s HIT Scholarship programme by more than 75% and upscaled its Graduate Programme will use to support the team.

Andy Roger, Resort Director at Cameron House, added: “Laura was one of our most pivotal appointments last year. She has been responsible for the introduction of the threeday induction during very trying times for the industry and most importantly, has continued to show a personal approach for each recruit, inspiring them for their own futures. This recognition from The Caterer Acorn Awards could not be more well deserved.”

NEWS

MANORVIEW GROUP ADD BRISBANE HOUSE TO PORTFOLIO Manorview Group has added the Brisbane House Hotel in Largs, to its portfolio making this the tenth hotel in its collection which includes the Bowfield Hotel and Country Club in Howwood, the recently revamped Redhurst in Giffnock and Cornhill Castle in Biggar to name just a few.

“Brisbane House is a fantastic fit for our varied portfolio of boutique hotels,” says Steve Graham, Founder and Director of Manorview. “We have admired it for a long time and many of the team have been frequent customers themselves. It mirrors the venues that we already operate in lots of ways. But like everything in our collection, it also has something unique that we didn’t already have for our expanding customer base.”

He continued, “The location is fantastic.

Largs has so much to offer both the local people and visitors from near and far. And with its coastal setting, the hotel itself not only boasts stunning views, but we feel it also gives guests a real sense of escape and

relaxation. “We are delighted to become the custodians of this iconic Largs venue.

We look forward to working with the existing team and greeting regular and new customers.”

The group will continue to operate the venue as it is, and all bookings made at the hotel will be honoured. David Tracey, Managing Director of the group said: “Brisbane already has a great reputation amongst customers. Our focus is on getting to know the team, supporting them through this transition, and getting to grips with what the customers want and need from the business.

“Like any of our properties, I’m sure we will find opportunities to create something wonderful and new for our guests! But the short-term plan is very much to focus on the team and ensure consistent quality for our guests throughout this changeover.”

Manorview intends to bring new benefits to the existing Brisbane team too, through their Living Wage accreditation and profit share scheme.“

Chris Diploch comes out out retirement to manager Karma Lake of Menteith Karma Group has launched Karma Lake of Menteith and has lured Chris Diplock out of retirement and back into the world of hospitality to manage its Aberfoyle retreat. - the group’s first Scottish property.

Chris (62), who is originally from Sussex, has previously worked in senior roles in both retail and hospitality all over the world, and as General Manager of Karma Lake of Menteith, the recently rebranded Lake of Menteith Hotel, purchased by the Karma Group last year, he is asked with welcoming guests, recruitment and overseeing the subtle refurbishments and redesigns of key areas in the Hotel, including the bar and Malt Vault.

Karma Group is owned by British born entrepreneur, John Spence, who had the vision to create a holistic, connected community of five-star destinations, linking like-minded individuals on every continent. Now the group has more than forty-four resorts, retreats and estates all over the world, including Bali, Thailand and India.

Says Chris, “I’m delighted to be here at the truly stunning Lake of Menteith, this resort is a fantastic addition to the Karma portfolio. ” It’s not the first Karma resort he has managed. He first joined the group in 2007 in Goa, India as General Manager of a sixty-three apartment holiday resort in North Goa near Baga Beach. He went on to become GM for a beautiful thirty-five bedroom luxury villa resort on the Thai

island of Koh Samui, moving on to a role at Karma Head Office in Bali.

In 2012 he was appointed Regional Director and Vice President of Karma India responsible for all seven luxury resorts throughout India at that time. Later Europe was added to his remit, with Chris assuming responsibility for a Karma resort in Bavaria. He opened Karma St Martins on the Isles of Scilly, Karma Borgo di Colleoli in Tuscany, Karma Normandy, and finally, Karma Minoan in Crete.

He adds, “Many of our Karma locations have a calming holistic air to them, and certainly you feel that here - looking out over the Lake is truly mesmerising with Stirling’s hills and mountains in the distance.

It’s so peaceful and tranquil that you can’t help but feel better when you come here, so important for guests after the trials and tribulations of the last two years. There’s heaps of potential to develop our offering here at Karma Lake of Menteith in the coming months. We’ll add value to the guest experience through our outstanding range of whiskies – with another seventeen bottles just added to the collection - together with collaborations with other visitor attractions in the area.”

Chris finished by saying that, although he had retired to Spain in 2019, he quickly realised “retirement wasn’t for me.”

HOTELSCOTLAND • 11

A hassle-free contactless experience for hotel guests.

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Take the guest experience to the next level, save time and boost your ROI with our customisable hotel app.

Get in touch for more information. tel: +44 345 301 0034 email: sales@hopsoftware.com web: hopsoftware.com

12 • HOTELSCOTLAND

FEATURE

CAN TECHNOLOGY DRIVE YOUR BUSINESS FURTHER?

T

he pandemic accelerated adoption rates in technology and there is no doubt that it is here to stay. Today, it is unlikely that anyone needs to be sold on the time and cost-saving benefits of automating front of house tasks such as bookings, check-ins, and payments that integrates into back-of-house systems including accounting, invoicing, and ordering but AI is now helping with pricing strategies as well as improving branded websites with much better content and SEO. As hotels seek to drive occupancy and return to pre-pandemic profitability levels Online Travel Agencies (OTA’s) do have a significant role to play.

OTA’s such as booking.com and Expedia have had a central role in driving bookings over the last 20 years but since the early 2000s, their commission fees have been steadily rising, from roughly 10% to possibly as much as 40% - particularly if you want to ensure top billing on search pages.

OTA’s do have an important role in any sales strategy but technology now allows us to find a dual strategy to balance OTA booking with direct sales. Digital marketing from websites, SEO, and direct mail or direct contact can help develop lasting customer relationships as well as securing the best price for rooms. Coupled with much better conversion technology the ability is now there to market rooms directly when and where you can.

The challenge for hotels is how to drive direct sales, saving on the commission fees, while working with OTA’s, who are likely to have included a rate parity agreement which will mean that the price the guest pays is always the same whether they book via the OTA website or directly with the hotel. Rate parity agreements limit the hotel’s ability to offer rooms at a lower price to customers who book direct.

It all means that while OTA’s will remain a key part of marketing and driving room occupancy, reducing your reliance on OTA’s will help drive your profit. This is where AI technology and integrated agencies can really help and they can cover some key areas that can drive profitability: · Your website is your best marketing vehicle. By focusing on local content and offering guests information on what to do in the vicinity, not only can you build local partnerships, but it helps encourage mailing list sign-ups and if you take that a step further and invoke a loyalty programme this gives you the ability to provide direct offers to preferential customers. You will, of course, need to double-check your parity agreements. Your online marketing and SEO can significantly help this not least because most guests search and book online.

Being able to forecast peak periods might mean that you can reduce your reliance on OTA’s in those periods and use them only during low demand or low peak seasons. Granular knowledge of your ADR throughout the year can help identify peaks and customer demographics.

To drive repeat visits of guests booking via an OTA, even though you may not have their contact details, incentivising customers to give that

NICOLA YOUNG INVESTIGATES

information at check-in – you may even incentivise with your own loyalty rewards programme Branded apps and online services can help drive other guest revenues during the stay such as room service and dining There is nothing worse than going to a website and finding it has not been updated. Employing an agency can pay off in the long term (and hopefully many of you will have been able to access the digital grants, and already have improvements underway) Click2Convert is one company that specialises in the hotel sector. It has experience working with independent hotels and resorts such as 5-star golf and spa resort, Cameron House on Loch Lomond, as well as some of the UK’s most innovative independent hotel groups such as Crerar Hotels and Manorview Hotels.

Understanding the hotel business holistically, from the back-end operations to the front-end digital presence, allows the team at Click2Convert to provide integrated digital marketing strategies to help grow hospitality brands online.

The award-winning pricing automation tool for hoteliers.

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HOTELSCOTLAND • 13

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“C2C provide excellent project management and marketing strategy “Click2Convert are a valuable partner who help us maximise services forofboth Malmaison and Hotel du Vinchannels.” brands.” the success our our websites and digital marketing David Tracey, Managing Director, Manorview Hotels & Leisure Group Chris Fielding Martin Group Marketing Manager Malmaison & Hotel du Vin

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FEATURE This includes delivering website solutions and all online marketing services with a specific focus on the hospitality industry. The company is award-winning too - it has just been nominated for the prestigious Roses Awards, hosted by The Drum, for outstanding and engaging website design.

It has also utilising ‘Metasearch’ which matches the user experience with Conversion Rate Optimisation which makes it easier for online visitors to browse and book rooms.

Cheryl Trutwin, Click2Convert founder explains, “Click2Convert incorporates metasearch into hotel strategies to align with online and offline goals. Metasearch is a hotelspecific, direct booking channel and one that all hoteliers should be utilising within their marketing strategies. This channel gives hotels the ability to display live room rates, drive incremental website revenue and reduce OTA commissions.”

The aim is to increase brand awareness, improve mid-week occupancy, and minimise OTA costs while improving conversion rates.

Booking systems are vital but so too is the experience your guests have as part of their stay. This begins at the front desk where time saved can allow reception to ‘up-sell’ more effectively because they have more time.

But this is not limited to only the check-in opportunity. Technology can now help you engage with your guests throughout their visit as well as providing powerful information for ongoing marketing and repeat visits.

Hop is a hotel Property Management System provider and its HopApp is a customisable hotel app that provides guests with a hassle-free and contactless experience and can help drive ROI during a stay.

It enables guests to find information on local places of interest, including directions and transportation details, sends notifications on the latest news and update, and, into this content-rich experience hotel offers along with restaurant and spa offers can all be promoted.

This can range from encouraging room upgrades to, browsing food and drink menus along with direct orders placed with secure direct payments.

The branded app can also be used to create personalised experiences to engage guests pre, during, and post-stay which can then encourage direct bookings and, in turn, reduce the commission paid to OTAs. Other apps include food and drink ordering, direct payments, check-in and check-out, table booking integrations, and bespoke branding.

All of this, of course, helps to improve operational efficiency by saving time on manual administration and freeing up staff by automating tasks such as check-in and out to improve the guest experience.

As experienced hoteliers, Hop has hands-on

experience in the hospitality industry.

A spokesperson for Hop told Hotel Scotland, “We understand the daily challenges and the pain points. That’s why we created Hop and continue to develop the intuitive tools hoteliers require to take away some of the daily hassles, which allows them to get on with what they do best; looking after your guests - while we do the rest.

“You can try this for yourself by booking a demo at hopsoftware.com.”

The rooms department is typically the largest generator of revenue and profit for hotels and therefore bookings and measuring average room rates and occupancy are key to understanding performance over time and by the time of year.

The largest part of your profit is driven by bookings and getting guests to visit your hotel - from RevPAR to Average Room Rate (ARR) - the success, as you all know, then depends on the profit per room and all other spending within your hotel during a stay.

This is where AI has a big benefit. It can help track competitor pricing, can map performance and industry trends over time, and work in livetime with occupancy rates to deliver a dynamic pricing strategy that factors in fluctuating demand.

RoomPriceGenie has created a revenue management solution and has created a market algorithm that analyses thousands of market prices to help set your rates and you can set date ranges and set minimum and maximum boundaries. It helps identify seasonal as well as day-of-week patterns and will automatically update your prices in your PMS or channel manager.

At its core RoomPriceGenie is an automated revenue management and pricing tool. Built to save hoteliers valuable time when developing their own pricing strategies, it utilises live market data to determine the optimum prices and rates hoteliers need to have in place in order to maximise revenue.

On top of this, it can help identify why you are getting fewer or more bookings than expected and optimise for you.

Ari Andricopoulos, CEO, RoomPriceGenie explains, “The hospitality industry, like the wider economy is faced with the challenge of an even more forensic view on pricing from its guests.

Against the wider challenge of current rising inflation rates and costs, the need for a more agile pricing strategy is more critical than ever.

In order to ensure they can maintain existing guests and attract new ones, hoteliers must prioritise an effective approach to pricing.

Implementing an automated system that gives a complete market overview ensures that hoteliers have an informed, and fully qualified pricing strategy.

“This enhanced efficiency can save them

money and work to safeguard their position in the market as well as crucially, give them more time to focus on guest engagement and other areas of operations so they can build both the guest experience and guest loyalty to protect future revenues.”

“RoomPriceGenie has been built with hoteliers at front of mind. We wanted to ensure we provide a system that is intuitive and straightforward to implement and access across all departments. We pride ourselves on the integrations we have in place with 35 hospitality and travel technology partners worldwide.

“Across channel managers and PMS providers, we are uniquely placed to deliver a solution to hoteliers that not only is fit for purpose but one that gets to work and delivers a return on its investment straight away.

Hoteliers no longer need to spend time and money manually updating their prices across platforms.

“We take care of it to ensure they are updated in real-time to ensure the price listed is best matched to the current market and most importantly, hoteliers are given the best opportunity to capture bookings and revenues.

“So not only is their pricing automated, so too are the pricing updates across channels and the PMS to deliver even greater efficiency and time and cost savings. A win-win in terms of productivity and profitability.”

To summarise: Your hotel website is your best marketing vehicle. By focusing on local content and things to do locally when guests are staying with you, not only can you build in local partnerships, but it adds value to mailing list sign-ups and loyalty programmes with the ability to provide direct offers to preferential customers. You will, of course, need to double-check your parity agreements. Your online marketing and SEO can significantly help this not least because most guests search and book online.

Being able to forecast peak periods might mean that you can reduce your reliance on OTA’s in those periods and only use them during low demand or low peak seasons.

Knowing your ADR can help identify peaks and customer types.

To drive repeat visits of guests booking via an OTA even though you may not have their contact details then capturing their information during check-in will allow you to contact them – you may even incentivise them with your own loyalty rewards programme.

Obviously, we have only just touched on what’s available, but this is the first in a series of technology features which we hope will help you drive your business.

HOTELSCOTLAND • 15

EVENTS

HIT GOLF DAY AT TRUMP TURNBERRY

Trump Turnberry played host to the hospitality industry last month when golfers assembled for an 18-hole Texas Scramble to raise cash for HIT Scotland. As you can see it was a most enjoyable day.

16 • HOTELSCOTLAND

TECHNOLOGY PROCUREMENT

U

pgrading IT systems to help your business might seem like a daunting procurement prospect but it doesn’t need to be that way if you approach the process systematically – no pun intended.

Firstly, consider who the stakeholders are throughout your business and determine the issues that need to be solved. Some problems may be attributable to inefficient or clunky software and applications, with a lack of integration between systems and disconnected data. In addition, inefficient processes impacting productivity can also be a factor. Take the time for a deep dive into all departments and really understand the grassroots issues and establish where gaps and opportunities exist.

Essentially you are looking at the pros and cons of the existing technology and have your teams think about what would make their time more productive for the benefit of the business. Individually you won’t necessarily have all the answers but collectively, a picture will emerge of what best in class could look like to future proof the business.

Map out the end-to-end business processes and look to re-engineer them for maximum efficiency. From the wider group of stakeholders, rationalise this team to a core group which represents each facet of your company. This group will be responsible and accountable for setting the optimal specifications for technology in your company, taking advantage of the rapidly evolving changes in the market.

However, it is crucial that the stakeholder group is not allowed to disappear down a rabbit hole of ever-changing options. Once the parameters are established, identify potential vendors and draft a Request for Information (RFI). This document should be issued to systematically identify similarities and differences between vendors and gain a greater understanding of their abilities. The overarching purpose of any system upgrade will be a combination of finding ways to positively impact business operations to generate greater efficiencies, increase productivity and ultimately increase revenue and profitability.

Always consider hardware requirements in addition to software and look for ways that systems overlap, ensuring that any systems under consideration have open APIs to create seamless integrations which will aid productivity.

When reviewing system options, have an eye on environmental matters too and look at ways in which new systems out there might be less energy-intensive than others. It might be too early in the culture shift, towards more green everything, for vendors to have meaningful answers right now but reducing carbon footprints should always be front of mind.

When the RFI responses have been collated and analysed, the findings can help create a roadmap of requirements both in terms of functionality priorities and budgets to ensure the ROI can be accurately calculated which in turn will lead to a green light to proceed to full tender or a pause to reconsider options.

Alastair Roy advises hoteliers to be systematic when it comes to technology.

For guidance on how to approach technology procurement contact alastair@aroprocurement.com www.aroprocurement.com

HOTELSCOTLAND • 17

INTERVIEW

TOM LEWIS the dynamo behind Monachyle MHOR and MHOR84 at Balquhidder, is hard to keep up with. SUSAN YOUNG did her best.

I

have known Tom Lewis and his wife Lisa May for many years. The couple who own and run Monachyle MHOR and MHOR 84, alongside Tom’s younger brother Dick, are the modern-day equivalent of the TV show “The Good Life.”

But he is the first to admit, that the last two years have not been much of a ‘good life’, due to the stresses of the pandemic. In fact, he believes it has set the business back five years.

However, every cloud has a silver lining and Tom tells me that he knows that the business is now in better shape than it has ever been, but he says, “It’s forecasting what the season holds which is tricky.”

The 23rd of March 2020 should have been a big celebration for Tom, as he reached the milestone age of 50, instead, it heralded the start of a period of worry and reflection.

He told me, “We always work a year or two ahead of ourselves, and just before lockdown we were quietly confident going into the new year. We only do about a dozen weddings a year and we had just put our prices up and the bookings were healthy.

Then came the pandemic, and they had to cancel and asked for their deposits back. We had to issue more than £100K of refunds.

That’s what killed our cash flow. We had no money coming in, and although our bank was supportive we used up all our funds and it wiped out our war chest. Then Sunak stepped in, and although I was at first reluctant, I took a bounce back loan.”

But this didn’t give Tom the incentive to splash the cash, it was the opposite. “People kept saying are you going to do some development, but I am naturally cautious. I wanted to wait until we could be assured that we were going to open.

So, we ended up doing 14 bathrooms and two accommodation units in 5 weeks. But we couldn’t do what we really wanted to do because we could only use what was in stock. For instance, we had to change all our bedroom handles because we couldn’t get parts.

But I want to get one good year of trading under our belt before deciding what to do next.”

He is also relieved and grateful that the business didn’t have to pay rates for two years. He says, “I can’t complain, and the VAT difference was huge. We have been asking for VAT for hospitality to be reduced for a long time, but maybe now that the government did try it, we could prove it did work. We all know that business viability greatly improved because of it.”

The last two years have certainly been challenging but Tom credits his wife Lisa May for keeping him sane. But admits it was a 18 • HOTELSCOTLAND

difficult journey. He says, “We couldn’t control what was going on, and I have realised that we are all quite controlling! And who knew zoom – it has been unbelievable – we couldn’t have done our job without it.

“I have been in touch with people I haven’t seen for years during lockdown. I sought their advice and trusted their advice, sometimes they made me laugh and sometimes they made me cry. That hasn’t been happening for years. We have all been so selfobsessed in running our businesses. This was a reality check.

In the beginning, I got quite depressed, and I have never been depressed in my life. But I think I had too much time to think, and I wanted to fix everything, and I couldn’t. I’ve learned that you do need time to think, but not too much time to ponder!”

Since the hotel re-opened the Lewis family have put together a brand new team, which is another change for the business. He says, “In the past we always had succession but now it is a new team of people. It has taken us a few months to get it right, but none of them knew who we were, and they didn’t know how things used to be done, which can be a problem. But on the other hand, I don’t believe in doing things the way they always have been done just because we have always done it that way. Change is a good thing and I do think we have the right team now. But getting

INTERVIEW

IT’S A GOOD LIFE staff has been brutal. We usually have 90 but we only have 67 at the moment.”

As a result, they have sold Mhor Fish, the Mhor Bread Tea room has been turned into a retail unit, and they are not serving lunches at Monachyle Mhor – just a simple bar menu and freshly baked scones Monday – Friday.

However, Tom believes the business is now in a better place, but he is very conscious of the steep rise in costs the business is incurring, and for the first time he has had to pass them on to customers. He explains, “Hospitality has always been slow about passing costs on to customers and we have certainly tried not to, but now we have no option.

One of the positives over the last two years is that we have only had UK customers (who knew that was a thing), they know the prices here and they were happy to pay it.” He added, “it has also helped that hotels like The Fife Arms have opened. It has made Georgian mahogany cool and has reset the price of boutique hotel rooms.

“Another important part of our hospitality industry is the likes of Gleneagles and Cameron House – their guests very often extend their stays and visit other parts of Scotland. We should celebrate our big hotels more. They are an important feeding

ground for many other smaller hospitality businesses in Scotland.”

Although he believes that there has been a slight change in behaviour since Ukraine, the rise in fuel costs and NI raise.

“Customers are now phoning and not just going online. They want to make sure they make the right decision and that we have the facilities they want before booking.”

But he returns to the issue of staff and recruitment which he believes is the single biggest issue facing the industry.

“We have to try and inspire young people, and encourage people with great skills to come back in. Lots of businesses do offer a better work/life balance, but we are just not good at telling people about it. Four day weeks are not uncommon now. We have to inspire cooks to come into the world, we need more good cooks. After all most people’s favourite meal is the one cooked by your mother.”

He has also got strong views on internet recipes. He laughs, “Chefs now get recipes off the internet instead of out of a book, but the beauty of a book is that it gives you the background to the recipe. And I am old fashioned and prefer that books tell you why a recipe works – and that knowledge can get you out of jail. You can tell a good chef by their ability to get you out of the shit!

HOTELSCOTLAND • 19

INTERVIEW He also has an idea up his sleeve to get chefs/proprietors together. He says, “I’ve called it ‘Chefs eat Mhor’. I’d like to see folk in the industry meeting regularly. A lot of owner-operated businesses because they are short-staffed are on the front line. When we do get in a room together early on, we share lots, and then it becomes a boozy night! If we meet more regularly, at each other’s venues, and here - I will bring chefs in to cook, I think we could all be a support to each other. I’m still fleshing out the idea but I think it could be great not just for us but for local suppliers too.”

And talking of suppliers Tom is very grateful for the support he got from his suppliers when the pandemic kicked off. “I have worked with some of my suppliers for 20 years. We have grown up together and it was these people who when I needed it gave me credit. Those are the kind of people you want to deal with, there are a lot of companies in Scotland like that – we are a small village - all those people who in the first couple of weeks gave me credit know that I will deal with them for the rest of my life. It was just as bad for them. Suppliers are important, without them we are nothing.”

However, he is hoping that going forward he can persuade them to start taking back their packaging. Although Tom and Lisa May don’t shout about their green ethos, they do embrace a more sustainable way of operating.

Says Tom, “Some of it is a necessity. The reality is we do a lot because our margins are so tight. We recycle, we use LED bulbs, we have our bees and Lisa May has the garden which supplies vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, and fruit to the hotel. We turn the heating down too, however, for guests, one of the privileges of staying in a hotel is that you can open a window and have the heating on.

He adds, “I do think that suppliers should take back their packaging.

It can be done. I also think that it should not be up to the Council to uplift bins. Hospitality pays for the uplift of waste and I think everyone should too. If we want to make environmental changes it has to start at home. As consumers we are responsible for taking care of our rubbish, it should not be the responsibility of the local council, that is not their area of expertise.”

When we spoke Tom was just getting ready for a special Champagne and Oyster Extravaganza. I asked him what else he has planned.

He laughs. “It is difficult planning. I am re-structuring my debt at the moment and the bank asked for a business plan based on the last two years … how can anyone do that?”

He laughs again, “You know I always had planned to be debt-free by my mid-50s. That is not going to happen – and now I think why did I think that would be a good thing? I was brought up in a family that had the mantra when you could afford something buy it. That’s a myth. So I am now restructuring my debt which will take some pressure off.

“I can’t really plan for summer because I don’t know what the market will do – if we get enough people we still have plans to extend, but we have to make some money first. But I do feel more confident going forward now, got my ducks in a row, maybe I am older and wiser. I can certainly see the opportunities – particularly when we start to see international guests gain.

“Lisa May and I are lucky we like our jobs but I would like to have 20 • HOTELSCOTLAND

more choices over the next couple of years. I have also realised by going through the information for the bank that we also have a really good business, and I don’t think I have ever really realised that.

“I would never have thought about selling if it hadn’t been for the last two years, but now I would, but obviously it would have to be the right deal. I used to be romantic and wanted to create something I could hand on. But we don’t have kids, and we are all living longer and healthier and I have to be more realistic. Lisa May and I are happy, although she would like to work in the garden full-time.”

But that is a plan for the future, right now Tom and his team are hoping for a busy season. He has put in more than a dozen caravans to accommodate staff, and there are plans afoot to landscape the front of Mhor84, and also get a new educational space up and running.

Explains Tom, “I always had a problem with regular education and when I started many people in hospitality were very good to me, from Stuart Spence who founded the Marcliffe in Aberdeen to Robin Buchanan-Smith at Eriska, so now I want to put something back and I can do that with a new classroom we have built. It is a nice environment for people to learn here. It will be all-inclusive – education for everyone.”

One person Tom has learned from is hotelier Gordon Campbell Gray. His hospitality crush.He laughs again, “I met him when we were both speaking at an event – he was the pre-speaker and I was the after-dinner speaker. He is a world-class operator and to have him in Scotland is amazing. He is so knowledgeable and he didn’t miss when he was doing his talk, he was quite hard on them. I thought ‘I love him’.’ He made it easy for me because all I had to do was make them laugh. He did One Aldwych in London, and it was London’s first ‘all white decorated hotel that I ever saw. It felt so Parisian.”

Tom tells me that he doesn’t know what his job title is now and that he spends more time than ever in the office, but he is determined to keep the business evolving. I have put some of my team on some of the amazing HIT courses, and I am determined to work on our training – hospitality is all about good service. You may have the best meal of your life but if the service is lousy that’s what you remember.

“I find it quite interesting looking at the young people coming through. All the stuff my age group was caught up in, matters not a jot to them. We became lifestyle hoteliers, our friends would come and stay and we thought we would make a fortune and some, when they didn’t, became a bit bitter. Today’s young hoteliers have no qualms about opening, for instance, only four days a week, they have half the staff and do more themselves and best of all they make money.

Tom says he aims to keep pushing himself and to be open-minded.

I asked him what was there anything he would take away from the pandemic? He concluded, “Keep a little bit of myself for myself. I didn’t put a value on anything I did. I thought because I could do it everyone could do it. But I am beginning to realise the value of what we do and I have come back invigorated. But best of all I have Lisa May by my side.”

It is a good life!

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BY PENNY DEVLIN

THE MEADOWPARK

T

BRIDGE OF ALLAN

he Meadowpark in Bridge of Allan, part of the Signature Group, has pulled back the curtains on its new luxury guest accommodation.

The Meadowpark on Kenilworth Road now has four new stylish guest rooms for overnight visitors following a three-month, over £500,000 makeover.

The creation of a local design team, the Interior Collection, the four-star quality assured guest rooms are brimming with character, charm and original period features, including high ceilings, ornate cornicing and panelled, original sash and case windows and of course their spectacular spiralling original staircase.

Each spacious room enjoys views towards Stirling Castle and the surrounding countryside, taking its name and design inspiration from the local environment and landmarks, such as The Wallace, Castle View, Deanston and Airth Park.

Three of the rooms at the Meadowbank are king-sized doubles and the fourth room includes a four-poster bed.

David and Emily Johnson, who are the father-anddaughter duo behind the Interior Collection, have over 30 years of experience in the industry and worked closely with the Meadowpark team to create a fun, eclectic interior which would leave a lasting memory for guests.

22 • HOTELSCOTLAND

David said, “The brief was to create a unique interior which would be memorable to the Meadowpark guests and act as a natural follow on from the fun and lively interior that the Meadowpark is already known for. It’s very exciting to unveil these four new rooms and we’re really pleased with how they have worked out.

“We worked very closely with Corrinne at Corrinne Muir Interiors who specialise in designing and manufacturing beautiful interiors - and they are experts at working with the top hotels in the hospitality industry including Gleneagles and Fonab Castle. Corrinne supplied and made the vision happen.

“We have used beautiful fabrics from Mulberry, GPJ Baker and Moon to create stunning curtains, fabulous wallcoverings from Sketch 23 and Liberty London and incredible murals which we have used in bathrooms. We used fun pieces of furniture in each room along with great lighting which creates a unique feel to each room.

“Euan Bain, Director at The Meadowpark, added, “After an extensive makeover by David and Emily, as well as the wider team, we believe these very special guest rooms combine contemporary style with period charm and fantastic views towards Stirling Castle. We’re so thrilled to be welcoming guests who have given us such lovely feedback already on the rooms.”

DESIGN FOCUS

Delighted to work with these amazing brands on this fabulous project of the new bedrooms at The Meadowpark Hotel.

TRADE DESIGN STUDIO 56 Manor Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7EH studio@theinteriorcollection.com

BY SUSAN YOUNG

TORRANCE HOTEL EAST KILBRIDE

L

ove is most certainly in the air at Manorview’s Torrance Hotel in East Kilbride as a completely refurbished honeymoon suite, at the popular hotel and wedding venue., is now on offer to brides and for special occasions.

Manorview Group, which is renowned for its wedding venues and wow factor honeymoon suites, have completed a luxurious makeover on the duplex suite which has always been a popular destination for newlyweds and romantic couples looking to propose or couples who are celebrating a

special occasion.

The new-look suite has been designed with ultimate luxury in mind and features romantic and fully adjustable mood lighting, high quality fixtures and fittings and plush fabrics throughout.

One of the highlights of the room is the upstairs spa bathroom which features a sunken spa bath as well as a lounge area, bespoke bar area and blossom tree, perfect for all those must capture ‘instagrammable’ moments and is accessed by a spiral staircase.

The downstairs bedroom area comes complete with a sumptuous bed, dressing

DESIGN FOCUS

room and statement chandelier.

To ensure the interiors were elevated and as luxurious as possible Manorview worked with longstanding design partner Space ID to design the new space which has an elegant and neutral colour palette with touches of gold, panelled walls, textured wall coverings and bespoke designed tiles and lighting fixtures that all work together perfectly to create a calming and romantic space that will instantly make guests feel special..

Lara Brown, GM at the Torrance Hotel said: “We are delighted to bring this new-look

honeymoon suite to our wedding couples and hotel guests. Our former Stuart Suite has always been a popular destination but its renovation is going to make it even more desirable and we are already inundated with booking enquiries. As a group we pride ourselves on attention to detail and this suite has that in abundance. With the wedding industry very much being back to business as usual we are confident our latest addition will help set us apart from the competition and give prospective guests even more reason to choose the Torrance for their big day.

HOTELSCOTLAND • 25

26 • HOTELSCOTLAND

DESIGN FOCUS

MARINE HOTEL TROON

M

arine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts has just launched the Marine Troon.

The reimagined 89-key Marine Troon features redesigned guest rooms, The Rabbit restaurant, and The Seal bar, in partnership with White Rabbit Projects and renovated spa and leisure offerings. Marine Troon encapsulates the maritime setting of the town, the local golf heritage and traditional Scottish themes and patterns to establish a sense of place felt throughout the hotel.

Phillip Allen, President of Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts said, “Our team is honoured to continue growing the brand across unforgettable destinations, and offer guests distinct hospitality experiences resulting in memorable stays for all. We are fully confident that Marine Troon will bring a strong new offering to the surrounding area, by celebrating the rich and natural heritage and simultaneously extending sophisticated hospitality”.

The design, led by AJ Capital Partners’ in-house interior design studio, included a

complete refurbishment of the hotel. The reception area is now dressed in mahogany, chestnut and marble, with a custom-made flora, fauna, and coastal wallpaper on the ceiling, representative of botanicals local to the Troon region. The lobby’s seating area is filled with soft textures like navy velvet, cognac leathers and rustic woods, designed to feel like a clubhouse for golfers, tourists and adventurers of all kinds.

The 78-cover restaurant called The Rabbit has been designed in keeping with the historic 19th-century hotel with an emphasis on timeless grandeur that’s balanced with a relaxed, inviting atmosphere. The space is designed to take advantage of the coastal views with quirky touches that mark the golf heritage of the property. Chandeliers crafted from burl wood and coastal driftwood give a warm glow, and generous soft furnishings of velvet promise a comfortable, laid-back setting for guests.

The Seal bar provides a relaxed option for all-day dining, cocktails and light bites.

The Seal is dog-friendly with equally

unrivalled views of Ayrshire’s coastline and has been designed with guests’ comfort in mind. Bookings can be made via www. therabbitandseal.com.

The hotels’ bedrooms have also been reimagined. The ‘Marine’ guest rooms celebrate Troon’s seaside credentials with elevated coastal touches and woven seagrass chandeliers, seersucker chairs and jewel-toned tapestry carpets. The oceanic toile wallpaper gives a nod to seagrass and seaweed, alongside seascape artwork.

All the ‘Marine’ rooms will offer expansive views of the rugged coast, which influences the oceanic materials and coastal touches to come to play.

Each room is home to a bespoke sketch by the talented British design star Luke Edward Hall, of Arthur Havers, who won the Claret Jug in 1923 at Royal Troon. The signature ‘Sea View’ category offers brilliant views of the Ayrshire coastline, with some also overlooking the legendary Royal Troon Golf Club’s Old Course and Portland Course.

HOTELSCOTLAND • 27

COAST SPA GOLF VIEW HOTEL & SPA, NAIRN

C

rerar Hotels, has revealed the results of a six-figure spa transformation at Golf View Hotel & Spa in Nairn now known as the Coast Spa. The £850,000 makeover includes an upgraded hydro experience offering guests the opportunity for an invigorating swim, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, a steam room and sauna and Scotland’s first Kurland-Steinbad Stone Bath – often known as a ‘volcano sauna’.

The unique heat experience, which sees a 400-degree centigrade stone immersed in icecold water to create a burst of steam and mild room temperature, releases minerals with many health-promoting effects including strengthening of the immune system, relaxation of the muscles and promotion of a healthy cardiovascular system.

28 • HOTELSCOTLAND

The Stone Bath will sit alongside a brand-new Himalayan Salt Therapy Room.

Coast Spa Manager, Kate Paterson, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be unveiling what is a truly outstanding new spa proposition to Golf View Hotel & Spa. “Coast Spa brings a whole new dimension, creating a real destination spa in the north of Scotland that offers the highest standard of treatments and facilities. We believe it can rival some of the best destination spas in the country, and really elevates the offering at Golf View Hotel & Spa. ‘Coast’ will continue to develop into the summer with the addition of the ‘Beach Hut’ – a private spa experience located close to the beach. Much like Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa’s ‘Wilderness Deck’, Beach Hut takes exclusive use within nature to a new level in Scotland.”

DESIGN FOCUS

SHORE SPA LOCH FYNE HOTEL

T

he Shore Spa has opened its doors to guests at the Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa. It’s the second Spa investment for owners the Crerar Hotel Group, with the Coast Spa also launching recently (see the previous page).

Last year the Scottish hotel group announced a trio of upcoming investments including a six-figure investment in Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa. As part of the £765,000 transformation, the existing pool has been renovated and upgraded with new heated beds and swan-neck pool fountains.

A brand-new terrace with loch-side saunas and ice drenches has been created, with further improvements to the existing hydro experience now also complete – allowing visitors the opportunity to luxuriate against the breath-taking backdrop, with stunning views.

The new spa also now offers additional therapy

suites, a healing Himalayan salt room, a eucalyptus steam treatment and sensory experience showers.

Shore Spa is part of a wider programme of work which will see a total of £4.5 million spent on the Loch Fyne property, Golf View Hotel & Spa and the Deeside Inn which will relaunch as the Balmoral Arms.

Jason Dougan, newly appointed General Manager at Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa, said, “We are excited to welcome guests to Shore Spa, our fresh new proposition which offers the highest standards and best possible experience for those looking for a luxury spa getaway.

“Shore Spa will rival some of the best in the country and will help us to showcase this beautiful corner of Scotland.

“We have a whole host of new treatments available including four exciting ‘experience treatments’ which are perfect for those looking to make the most of their time with us.”

HOTELSCOTLAND • 29

PEOPLE

DRAPER & STOTT JOIN APEX HOTELS MANAGEMENT TEAM

Crerar Hotels appoint MacCormick Crerar Hotels has welcomed a new member to its leadership team in time for a duo of new spas launching.

Kirsty MacCormick, who has over 30 years experience in the spa industry, will be supporting the spa operations in the role of Group Spa Manager at the hotel group.

Kirsty has a wealth of experience having previously worked at the Mandarin Oriental and Amari Hotels and Resorts. She has also overseen an impressive number of projects within the UK, including the Kohler Waters Spa expansion at St. Andrews as Director of the Spa as well as running her own spa consultancy business.

The new appointment cements Crerar Hotels’ commitment to driving the spa area of the business, following significant investment in two of its hotels’ offerings this year - the newly refurbished and rebranded Shore Spa at Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa and Coast Spa Golf View Hotel & Spa. Kirsty said, “With the launches of the newly refurbished spas imminent, it’s an exciting time to become a member of the Crerar Hotels family. “ Chris Wayne-Wills, Chief Executive of Crerar Hotels, said: “I’m thrilled Kirsty is joining the team, especially at what can only be described as a pivotal moment for our spa offering. Her experience in the spa industry is second to none, and I’m confident it will help us drive forward this area of the business in line with our ambitious aim of ensuring our hotels and inns become some of Scotland’s most wellknown spa destinations.”

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Scottish-based Apex Hotels has announced two new senior appointments – Michael Stott and Kerry Draper. Both join the business at a crucial time as the hotel group stands poised to capitalise on the investments in back-office infrastructure and guest-facing technology made during the coronavirus-induced slowdown.

Hospitality expert Michael Stott (above right) joins as Commercial Director, from Hoar Cross Hotel & Spa having also held notable roles within Macdonald Hotels and Resorts, Whittlebury Hall & Spa and Center Parcs during his three decades within the industry.

While Kerry Draper has been appointed as the hotels’s new HR Director. She boasts a wealth of experience in HR and people management gained during a career spanning over 20 years, including key roles with household names like Virgin, British Gas and Carlsberg.

Commercial Director Michael’s priority will be building on the existing brand foundations to create an even more successful future.

He said, “I’m thrilled to join such a wellestablished, successful brand as Apex Hotels.

Hospitality has come through a challenging period, and our focus is now firmly on the future.

“Apex has prepared for a strong business return with significant investment in new technologies during the pandemic – such as

enhanced property and guest management systems and embracing ‘big data’ to arm ourselves with valuable insights, to improve customer responsiveness and drive business improvements – we’re ready to embrace any changes the future might bring.

“It’s a very exciting time to be undertaking a new role within an exceptionally experienced and close-knit team.”

New HR Director, Kerry, is set to transform Apex Hotels’ people experience as the brand faces a post-Covid and post-Brexit world, which brings with it a separate set of challenges.

Kerry said, “I’m always drawn to brands with an exceptional people focus, and a strong responsible business strategy never fails to impress me – and that’s exactly why I have taken up this role with Apex Hotels.

“There’s no denying that the industry as a whole is still facing challenges in recruitment and retention as a result of Covid and Brexit, and one of my key focus areas will be to cement Apex’s position as an outstanding employer of choice within the hospitality industry. Like Michael, I’m fortunate to be able to build on a solid foundation, with a focus on enhancing the ‘people experience’ from an internal and external perspective – bringing our internal culture of supporting and developing our employees in line with our external guest messaging and ethos.”

INDIGO ROLE FOR MAKIN

Syme is back on the menu at Fairmont St Andrews Fairmont St Andrews is welcoming back Chef Ian Syme, who re-joins the team from a three-year stint as Executive Sous Chef at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire.

Originally from Anstruther, Fife, Chef Syme previously spent almost three years at Fairmont St Andrews as Executive Sous Chef, as well as a stint as Head Chef at the Seafood Ristorante in St Andrews around its rebrand in 2016.

Chef Syme joins at an exciting time for the luxury resort with the return of international tourism and the 150th Open coming to St Andrews this summer.

From breakfast to dinner, he plans to be heavily involved in all the hotel kitchens, offering support and guidance and dedicating time daily to mentoring and development of the kitchen team.

Commenting on his appointment, he said:, “It is a fantastic time to be coming back to Fairmont St Andrews, ahead of what may be our busiest summer on record.

“I am so looking forward to seeing some

familiar faces, and meeting some new ones, as we further develop our staff team and our fantastic food offering. I completely share Fairmont’s values in the training and developing of people making a start in the industry and look forward to bringing on some new culinary apprentices over time.

“Being back in St Andrews means I am that bit closer to our excellent local suppliers, too, such as our lobster fisherman who work in St Andrews Bay, which is right on our doorstep.

My fondness for my home in Fife finds a way into all my cooking and the seafood we have here on the East Neuk, like lobster and turbot, is always a prominent feature.”

Splendid Hospitality Group has appointed Barry Makin as General Manager for the four-star, 60-bedroom Hotel Indigo Edinburgh York Place.

Barry, who brings with him a depth of industry knowledge and understanding of the local Scottish hotel market, started his career in 2003 at St Andrews Bay Golf Resort and Spa and joins Hotel Indigo from The Scotsman Hotel Edinburgh, where he was General Manager for four years.

Barry has previously held senior positions at Principal Edinburgh George Street, The Roxburghe Hotel Edinburgh and the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow to name a few.

This new appointment at Hotel Indigo Edinburgh York Place will mean overseeing 35 staff and 60- bedrooms. Barry will also continue to develop the hotel’s partnerships with local businesses,.

Speaking of his new role, Barry said: “I am so thrilled to be continuing my experience as General Manager for such a great hotel and to work alongside the wonderful team to guarantee every guest gets the greatest possible experience. This appointment offers many opportunities for me to collaborate with local businesses, reconnect with my many contacts and be part of the Splendid Hospitality family.”

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HOTELSCOTLAND • 33

EVENTS

LISINI CELEBRATE

Lisini’s Summer Ball was renamed the Spring Fling after it was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. Staff from Dalziel Park, Angels and the companies other venues all joined the knees up which recognised the hardwork the team has put in.

34 • HOTELSCOTLAND

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