New Face at Huntly Arms Gets Off to Great Start

Jill McAlpine, the newly appointed general manager of the Huntly Arms on Charlestown Road in Aboyne has in a matter of months made such an impression that the hotel has seen reservation rates rise in the first half of the year by 28% compared to the same period last year.

Jill, who took over the Oxford Hotel and Inns owned business in February, had previously worked at two other hotels within the group, the Royal Hotel in Thurso and the Norseman Hotel in Wick and at only 25 is seen as one of the rising stars within the group.

Commenting on the move to the Huntly Arms, Jill said, “After five years in my previous role I was looking for a new challenge and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. It’s a great honour to be running what is probably the oldest coaching inn in Scotland which is steeped in history and in such a wonderful location.”

“The hotel has seen a great deal of change over the last year. It has benefited from a substantial refurbishment of the bedrooms and public areas and we’ve enhanced the restaurant offer significantly with improved menus, as well as upgrading our meetings and conference facilities; however the main focus has been to improve customer service.”

Jill’s passion for customer service was boosted following her winning of a scholarship from the Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland and attending the Disney Institute in Florida to learn about the Disney Customer Service philosophy.

Jill continued, “The Americans have always been pioneers in terms of customer service and Disney certainly lead the field. I learnt a great deal during my time in Florida and have made it a priority to ensure that I instil the value of customer service across my team.

“The Huntly Arms has been at the heart of this community for hundreds of years and we’ve made great efforts to welcome back those who have probably not visited us for sometime to see how we’ve changed. Many community groups are now using our facilities as a meeting place and it’s paramount that residents in the village and surrounding area see us as a meeting place for everyone.”

Skeabost Hotel Invests In Its Future

The Skeabost Country House Hotel, situated on the edge of the idyllic Loch Snizort has implemented an extensive investment programme as part of its continuing commitment to offer the ultimate luxurious hotel experience.

The property, which is part of Oxford Hotels and Inns Oxford Collection, has just completed £150,000 worth of improvements. The bedrooms have all been restyled and individually designed to superior standards, with guests able to enjoy lavish four poster beds, sumptuous furnishings and luxurious en-suite bathrooms.

The hotel’s public bar has also reopened and as the hub of the community it welcomes back all its regular customers. As a great place to unwind and relax, it offers a pool table, juke box, live music nights and now a weekly quiz night has been added to its line up of entertainment. Other investments include general maintenance to the hotel with further improvements throughout the building.

Janet Staddart, general manager of Skeabost Hotel, said: “The improvements to the hotel are part of a long term investment aimed to take Skeabost to the next level of hotel luxury. The hotel is situated in the beautiful surroundings of Loch Snizort and is a fantastic holiday destination. Not only do our guests have the opportunity to enjoy the Scottish countryside we also offer a nine hole golf course and our own private salmon and trout farm, perfect for those who enjoy a spot of fishing.”

Mark Edwards, Managing Director of Oxford Hotels and Inns adds: “It’s our aim to create a select range of luxury properties within our Scottish portfolio of hotels known as the Oxford Collection, each emphasising its own individual characteristics and bespoke charm. Skeabost Country House Hotel is one example of many that we’re currently channelling our energy into developing.”

A Welcome Return to the Loch

National hotel and leisure operator, Oxford Hotels and Inns has appointed Drew Anderson as hotel manager of the Argyll Hotel situated on the shores of Loch Fyne.

Located in the Royal Burgh Inverary, Drew will lead a team of 25 at the 18th century hotel which is one of the finest and most historic hotels on the West Coast of Scotland. He makes a welcome return to the hotel having previously held the position of hotel manager before heading off to pursue other interests. Yet the lure of the Loch was too much and he returned to fill his previous position of hotel manager.

Drew will be managing the day to day running of the 36 bedroom hotel which offers traditional quality accommodation and conferencing facilities in the superb lakeside setting. Drew, who has 20 years experience in the hospitality and leisure industry, says: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to take up the post of hotel manager once again. Working in such a picturesque place as Loch Fyne makes me feel tremendously lucky. The hotel has an excellent and dedicated team of staff and I’m, very pleased to back at the helm.”

Mark Edwards, Managing Director of Oxford Hotels and Inns comments: “We are thrilled to welcome Drew back, his experience both with Oxford Hotels and the hospitality and leisure industry as a whole makes him the perfect choice. I look forward to working with him in developing the Argyll hotel even further.”

Oxford Hotels & Inns Signs Up To The Meeting Industry Association

Following the launch of its Inspired Meetings and Events service earlier this year, Oxford Hotels & Inns has signed up to the Meeting Industry Association (MIA), the UK and Ireland’s leading professional organisation for the meetings industry.

Twelve hotels within the Oxford Hotels and Inns portfolio currently operate the Inspired Meetings and Events service including Brook Meadow in South Wirral, the Carnoustie Golf Hotel in Angus, the Columba Hotel in Inverness, the Newton Hotel in Nairn, the Tulloch Hotel in Ross-shire, Stonefield Castle in Argyll, Gleddoch Hotel in Renfrewshire, Derwent Manor in Northumberland, Coulsdon Manor in Surrey, St Mellons in Cardiff, Risley Hall in Derbyshire and Craigellachie in Banffshire.

Commenting on the decision to join the MIA, Mark Edwards, Managing Director of Oxford Hotels and Inns said: “The MIA set the standard when it comes to the meetings industry. Having just invested in our own range of dedicated Inspired Meetings and Events destinations, it was important that we affiliated ourselves with an independent organisation that shared our commitment to providing delegates with the highest quality experience, whilst increasing our visibility to potential buyers.

“Our MIA membership and commitment to meet the high standards of their AIM accreditation programme ensures potential buyers that we fully meet with their stringent code of practice in terms of compliance in areas such as health and safety, data protection and trade descriptions. It also underlines our commitment to operate legally, ethically and to the standards of excellence that MIA has established since its founding in 1990.

“We are extremely excited about our association with the MIA and look forward to working with them to grow our business and use their expertise in developing a framework around which we can develop our own operational procedures.”

Columba Hotel Celebrates New Four Star Rating

Management and staff at the historic Columba Hotel on the banks of the River Ness in Inverness are celebrating after the AA awarded the Victorian hotel a ‘four stars’ rating after its annual quality standards inspection.

The hotel which is part of the Oxford Hotels and Inns portfolio joins only a handful of other hotels in the city to reach the four stars standard, and the management and staff are looking forward to welcoming visitors looking for a hotel that offers a greater level of luxury.

Commenting on the new star rating, General Manager Neil Turner said: “We’re all thrilled to have been given four stars and it’s a testament to the hard work that all the staff have put in over the last year.

“The hotel once had a reputation for being a touring venue, but it’s now entering a new era in its 127 year history and we will continue to invest in our collection of facilities and services to ensure we remain at the top of our game and attract an even greater range of guests.

“We’ve made many changes to our offering this year including the opening of our new fine dining venue - Castles Restaurant which features high ceilings and stunning views across the river and towards Inverness Castle; as well as refurbishing our popular Victoria Restaurant in modern vibrant colours and investing in our conferencing facilities which can cater from 4 – 200 delegates.”

The hotel underwent a major refurbishment programme in 2004 with an interior design scheme to complement the Victorian architecture, with a modern twist. The spacious bedrooms feature traditional pieces of furniture with contemporary transitional accessories as well as wireless WiFi broadband internet access.

Lazy Days At The Luscious Lugger

Surrounded by cliffs and headlands which form part of the Cornish Coastal Footpath and Roseland Peninsula, Portloe possesses an unrivalled beauty and enduring timelessness. The Lugger Hotel sits right on the water’s edge in the centre of this delightful village.

We welcome Caroline Davidson, an exceptional and experienced hotelier, as the new General Manager to the Lugger Hotel. She and her team are waiting for your arrival, expectantly, all looking forward to taking great care of you.

Spoil yourself and allow the Lugger to become your self-indulgent sanctuary.

Modern and Ancient

The city of Chester, stepped in history, dating back to the Roman Empire and Liverpool, “City of Culture 2008” are both a stone’s throw from the Brook Meadow Hotel. Burrowed in the charming village of Childer Thornton, the Brook Meadow promises you over three aces of stunning landscaped gardens and a truly tranquil atmosphere.

With 4 new feature rooms added to their inventory, the Brook Meadow will pose as the classic choice for your next deservedly peaceful retreat.