NEWS

HOLIDAY VOUCHER SCHEME LAUNCHED

Hotels and bed and breakfasts, guest houses, hostels and camping parks and visitor attractions can all sign up to ScotGov and Visit Scotland’s ScotSpirit Holiday Voucher Scheme to help boost tourism by offering subsidised breaks around Scotland, with vouchers available to low-income families, unpaid carers and disadvantaged young people.

It aims to offer those who don’t often get holidays the chance to explore a new part of Scotland, as well as boosting tourism in the off-season, and the scheme forms part of a £25 million tourism recovery package announced by the first minister and is completely funded by the Scottish Government.

Businesses will be paid by the Scottish Government for any booking made directly through the holiday voucher initiative, while Charities such as Family Holiday Association and Shared Care Scotland will help to ensure those most in need of the subsidised trips get the vouchers.

Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said, “We’re encouraging as many tourism businesses as possible to be part of the ScotSpirit Holiday Voucher Scheme.

“Not only will you generate income for your business but you will also provide long-lasting memories for people who don’t often get to experience a holiday.

“Tourism is a force for good – creating economic and social value in every corner of Scotland and enhancing the well-being of everyone who experiences it.

“Tourism makes Scotland richer, economically and socially, and without it Scotland would be a much poorer place.”

The 13-bedroom Ecclefechan Hotel near Gretna is on the market. All rooms are en suite and it’s an established familyrun village hotel that Joe and Mary Kelly and son Steve have run since 2005. It has a public bar with lounge area and dining area, is easily accessed from M74/A74 Glasgow to Carlisle, has private parking to the rear and is suitable as family-run operation/chef operator For further information contact Smith and Clough on 0141 404 0087 or email graeme@ smithandclough.com

Edinburgh’s Broughton Hotel has just been put up for sale but not as a hotel, instead, it is being marketed as a sevenbedroom terraced house. Marketed by Saville’s, the hotel traded for the last 10 years, is rated four and a half stars on Tripadvisor, and is set over four floors. There are six en suite double bedrooms on the upper two floors, three on the first and three on the second floor. Two of the bedrooms are set up as family rooms, while one of the rooms has an en suite bathroom. The lower ground floor provides its own self-contained accommodation with a private entrance at the rear.

RENOVATIONS FOR THE OLD COURSE

The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St Andrews is currently undergoing a series of renovation works to the hotel, including the introduction of a penthouse, 31 new guest rooms, an additional restaurant and bar, as well as refurbished events spaces – all set to be unveiled at the end of August, well ahead of The Open in 2022 which will be held on the Old Course.

Following the renovations, the hotel will boast 175 rooms, with the introduction of a third floor in the ‘Champions Wing.’

The penthouse will be added to the fourth floor, which will be the only room with a private lift and balcony, outdoor seating and fire pit, with views overlooking West Sands Beach and the golf course. The interiors will feature wood panelling, a central fireplace, a private dining area for eight guests, with parquet flooring throughout, and a free-standing bath in the bedroom.

It currently has six restaurants and bars and will add to its offering with the launch of a new 80-cover restaurant and bar, situated on the fourth floor and in the East End of the hotel.

It will provide all-day dining, serving international cuisine using locally sourced Scottish produce, and an extensive wine and cocktail list. With floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor terrace, it will offer panoramic views of the town and golf course.

Ellon-headquartered Brewdog has opened its 18-bedroom hotel and bar Doghouse Hotel Manchester at Bruntwood Works’ Bloc building, and is the company’s first in England and fourth overall, behind two in the US and one in Aberdeen. Features at the hotel include in-room beer taps and beer showers and a roof terrace. The hotel is billed as carbon-negative.

DALATA HOTEL GROUP OPENS £40 MILLION MALDON GLASGOW HOTEL

Ireland’s largest hotel group, Dalata Hotel Group Plc, has officially opened its first hotel in Scotland – the £40 million four-star 300-room Maldron hotel on Renfrew St which is the only four-star hotel to have opened in Scotland this year. In 2022 the Group will further strengthen its presence in Glasgow with the opening of a 4-star Clayton Hotel on Customs Quay.

Dalata already operates over 45 hotels across the UK and Ireland,

Pictured at the opening of the new £40million Maldron Hotel Glasgow City today (Tuesday August 3) is the team from Dalata Hotel Group along with Stephen McNally, Deputy Chief Executive, Dalata Hotel Group, Lorna Mathers, Hotel Manager and Hazel Galloway, Hotel General Manager.

Cameron House Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond near Balloch made a £13,846,000 profit in 2020 - after posting a loss of £12,057,000 in 2019 in its annual accounts. The hotel has delayed its reopening after its £30m renovation by a month until the 1st of September.

Couple Simon Midgley, 32, and his partner Richard Dyson, 38, were killed in the 2017 blaze and in January this year, Cameron House was fined £500,000 after pleading guilty to a string of fire safety failures. Night porter Christopher O’Malley, 35, from Renton, was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work for putting fireplace ash in a plastic bag and inside a cupboard, which started the fire.

Edinburgh’s Dunstane House hotel at 4 West Coates and 5 Hampton Terrace Haymarket has secured a place on Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice-Best of the Best award at number 11- out of the top 25 hotels in the whole of the UK.

The five-star hotel owned by Shirley and Derek Mowat offers 35 luxury rooms between two stately Victorian homes on opposite sides of the road: Dunstane House and Hampton House.

SCALE OF CHALLENGES INDUSTRY FACES MUST BE ADDRESSED

New research published by hospitality and pub trade bodies UKHospitality, The British Beer and Pub Association, and The British Institute of Innkeeping shows the scale of the challenges facing these hard-hit businesses as they look to rebuild from the pandemic.

The bodies all warn that the long-awaited easing of restrictions does not mark an easing of challenges for businesses. Chief among these are major concerns around staffing, the supply chain and tapering of Government support.

The survey of over 350 businesses operating tens of thousands of venues found that 100% of businesses surveyed currently have vacancies - mainly front-of-house (84%), non-head chefs (67%) and kitchen porters (36%). A third are experiencing managerial role vacancies. Vacancy levels are running at 10% across the sector – implying a shortage of over 200,000 workers.

What was also unearthed in the findings is the fact that almost all (94%) of hospitality businesses are experiencing difficulties with their supply chain – 66% have reduced product lines; 63% are seeing delays in deliveries; 60% are experiencing products not turning up; and 56% are seeing major price inflation.

Also reported was that a return to a VAT rate of 20% next year will have negative impacts on the vast majority of businesses: 43% said they would cut investment; 30% would become loss-making; 28% would cut jobs; 22% would implement a recruitment freeze, and 21% would face business failure.

In terms of priorities for government support, respondents ranked additional business rates relief, followed by a continued reduction in hospitality VAT beyond March 2022 and, thirdly, an overhaul of the business rates system.

Other support measures needed that ranked highly were a reduction in the tax on beer and alcoholic drinks, as well as help to address labour shortages experienced by the sector.

In a joint statement, the three trade bodies said, “The easing of all legal restrictions should mark a progression into the recovery phase for our sector, which has been hardest hit during the pandemic and only now permitted to trade unrestricted and make progress toward rebuilding and paying off accrued debts.

“But businesses are faced with a range of pressing challenges meaning the road to recovery will be bumpy for many months to come. The sector has already lost more than 12,000 venues during the course of the pandemic and more than half a million jobs - without further adequate support, there will be more businesses and jobs lost.

“For hospitality to begin a sustainable recovery, Government must continue working closely with us in order to put in place the right trading environment., This will offer firms the chance to bounce back strongly and help to rebuild fragile consumer confidence. With the right support, hospitality can be at the forefront of the nation’s economic recovery, creating jobs and reviving our high streets and city centres.”

THE BAUSHAUS SOLD FOR STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

The Bauhaus Hotel in Aberdeen, which went into administration in 2019 has been sold to a developer that plans to convert it into student accommodation.

Hotel property specialists Colliers sold the former Bauhaus Hotel, in Langstane Place, on behalf of administrators RSM Restructuring Advisory LLP for an undisclosed sum off a guide price of £1.4million.

Paul Dounis, partner at RSM and joint administrator, said, “The sale and change of use of the vacant Bauhaus building will bring young people back into the heart of Aberdeen; enhancing the vibrancy of the city; creating jobs and supporting economic growth post-pandemic.” Robert Smithson, from Colliers’ Hotel Agency, who acted for RSM said: “We are delighted to have assisted RSM in finding a new use for this property. There has been a number of hotel asset sales taking place for alternative uses in recent times, this is the latest example of a hotel sale taking place with demand from both developers and hoteliers.”

Conversion of the property is expected to begin immediately.

HOUSE OF GODS AMBITIOUS EXPANSION PLANS AS OAKBANK BACK INVESTMENT CRERAR EXPANDS OFFERING TO SELF-CATERING

Island View House comes to Glencoe Inn The Scottish hotel group behind the Glencoe Inn has unveiled brand-new selfcatering accommodation on the site of the five-star property.

Island View House allows guests to enjoy the best of both worlds, with completely private accommodation in the newly renovated five-bedroom house. Representing a further investment of £150,000 in Glencoe, Island View can accommodate groups of up to 10, with all the hallmarks of the neighbouring five-star facilities, plus spacious lounge with log fire burner, private outdoor hot tub and fully equipped kitchen.

Edinburgh’s House of Gods Hotel entrepreneur founders, brothers Mike and Ross Baxter, are set to open a new 31-bedroom boutique hotel on Glasgow’s Glassford Street in the former Peckham’s after they secured a £4.8m OakNorth Bank loan. Also in the planning stages is a hotel for Manchester in addition to their flagship Edinburgh business.

House of Gods Hotel in Edinburgh was partially funded via a £1.1m loan from OakNorth Bank in 2019 and has been operational since April this year.

The new £4.8m capital from OakNorth Bank, coupled with the £5m IMBIBA investment, will be used to finance the expansion.

Mike and Ross Baxter, co-founders of House of Gods Hotel said, “We’re very excited to be expanding the brand. The Edinburgh hotel has been incredibly well received and we feel both Glasgow and Manchester are the perfect locations for the two new hotels.

“It’s been a challenging year for the industry but with the support of Mohith and his team at OakNorth Bank, the business has traded very well and found opportunity in two fantastic new sites.

Mohith Sondhi, senior debt finance director at OakNorth Bank, said, “Prior to Covid-19, The House of Gods Hotel in Edinburgh had been trading extremely well. When hotels were allowed to re-open in late April this year, it achieved 90% occupancy in May and 95% occupancy in June – a clear demonstration of the demand for this unique hotel concept.

“We want to ensure the business has the capital it needs to not only take advantage of the demand when all restrictions end next month, but to also maximise opportunities to continue growing the brand in the meantime.

The Scottish Tourism Leadership Programme to support business and community-led tourism enterprises Scotland-wide has launched.

Funded by the Scottish Government’s £25m Tourism Taskforce Recovery Plan, Scottish Enterprise (SE), Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS) are working together to design and deliver the programme which is offering fully funded places for up to 300 participants between now and March 2022.

It will offer a range of opportunities to develop personal skills and expertise, to gain insight from fellow participants and specialists. It will also offer the opportunity to become part of a growing network of people working to develop ‘innovative tourism opportunities’ via accredited leadership training.

CRERAR EXPANDS OFFERING TO SELF-CATERING

RESEARCH REVEALS WHAT CUSTOMERS VALUE

New research from The Cumberland building society says that 86% of UK holiday accommodation owners report investing in their business during the pandemic, with 94% saying they have made longlasting, positive changes.

The survey of 1,021 UK consumers and 233 UK accommodation owners/managers also highlighted that four-fifths of holiday accommodation owners questioned (80%) said that they had been spending money on being compliant with Covid-19 guidelines, while 71% have been improving their property or services.

Despite relaxations in foreign travel restrictions, there is still caution amongst UK holidaymakers, with 84% opting to holiday in the UK this summer. Of these, the survey revealed that hotels (38%) and cottages (32%) are the most popular types of accommodation, followed by bed and breakfast accommodation (24%).

However, Covid-19 compliance and cleanliness is still dominating their choice of accommodation providers, as 69% say they are willing to pay more for hotels, B&Bs and holiday lets offering these additional services: 38% of respondents said they would pay more for a property which has a Covid-19 deep cleaning service, while 31% would pay more for a property with clear instructions on its COVID-19 guidance. And 16% of Brits say they would pay more if their accommodation was dog-friendly.

The findings also show that Cornwall is the favourite UK destination (17%) with the Lake District proving as popular as Devon (14% each), followed closely by Scotland (13%), Wales (11%) and East Anglia (9%).

When it comes to business funding during the pandemic, 52% of respondents funded their investment in their business from savings/ equity contribution; 41% from a business loan; 26% from insurance; 21% from external equity; 17% from CBILS or BBLS loans and 15% from remortgage. Additionally, 75% said they were definitely going to or are considering using the Government Recovery Loan Scheme, which could indicate that this hasn’t been a necessity for many, as it was only introduced in April.

The respondents were asked about investing in their businesses over the three years 2020-2022 inclusive and from the findings, owner-managers said they had invested or were planning on investing in their properties 11-20% of turnover.

Overall, 94% of those questioned have made a long-lasting positive change to their business as a result of the pandemic. Of this, 55% of respondents said that renovations were the main long-lasting positive changes the pandemic has led them to make to their business. This is followed by process improvements (46%); introducing new services (45%) and new IT systems (34%).

Regarding the booking patterns amongst UK consumers, 36% of respondents say they would book UK holidays between less than one month ahead and three months ahead of time, while only 6% said they would plan to book 10-12 months ahead. 26% said they would not plan to book a UK holiday whilst in the current COVID circumstance. 56% of respondents cited concerns about cancellations due to the impact of new strains of the virus as their biggest concern for the 2021 summer season, while 31% of accommodation owners said that they were concerned about customers ‘doublebooking’ holidays and then cancelling with them at the last minute. MARCO PIERRE WHITE HEADS SIGNATURE FOOD FESTIVAL

The Signature Food Festival in Aberdeen, a celebration of culinary creativity, will return on Friday November 5th, 2021 for a fortnight, with a line up of Michelin-starred chefs including Marco Pierre White and Richard Corrigan and a total of 13 events.

The chefs, who between them hold 12 Michelin stars and 23 AA Rosettes, will create their Signature dishes in the kitchens of The Chester Hotel in Aberdeen owned by the Festival founders Graham and Gillian Wood.

The couple are passionate ‘foodies’, and wanted to create a showcase for Aberdeen as a gourmet destination and the exceptional produce that can be found on his city’s doorstep, while at the same time raising funds for local children’s charities. In the four years it has been running, the festival has so far raised half a million pounds for good causes in north-east Scotland.

Said Graham, “The calibre of chefs Signature continues to attract shows just how much this festival has grown, in such a short time. And it also reflects the appetite there is for fine dining and an appreciation of the outstanding ingredients and produce that can be readily sourced in the northeast of Scotland. “The six guest chefs we have onboard this year now means that we can take that vision to another level, serving our guests exquisite, surprising and diverse menus, using locally sourced ingredients and all within an intimate setting.”

Glynn Purnell is returning for his third appearance and Atul Kochhar, the first Michelin-starred Indian chef, for his second appearance.

Great British Menu winners and mentors Phil Howard and Daniel Clifford, who both made their debut at the 2019 event will also return to Aberdeen for the event.