Scottish five-star resort, Cameron House, has revealed its newly refurbished bedrooms and suites following completion of its £4 million investment.

The 136 bedrooms, including 26 suites, have all been fully refurbished to offer a contemporary, luxury look while retaining the warm and inviting atmosphere guests have always enjoyed at Cameron House.

The design scheme takes inspiration from the hotel’s stunning surroundings, injecting a Scottish flavour with contemporary nods to tartan and layered paisleys throughout the rooms.

The completion of the bedrooms marks the end of a 12 month refurbishment plan at Cameron House. The year-long project has included a revamping of the food and beverage offering along with the hotel’s other public spaces, and the addition of the new Great Scots Bar Terrace, which offers a stunning open-air space overlooking Loch Lomond.

The interior design gives the rooms a rich, colourful and opulent feel, by adding bold reds, including mixed eclectic furnishings and accessories that use a mixture of warm copper, bronze and antique brass fittings. Luxurious touches include fabrics from Osborne & Little, bespoke carpets from Gravity Flooring and upholstery from Zoffany with the main focal point in every room being the sumptuous handmade leather sleigh beds by Paton Developments.

“It’s fantastic to finally see the culmination of this exciting multimillion-pound investment,” says Resort Director, Andy Roger. “We hope guests will agree the new-look bedrooms now match the investment made throughout the resort, ensuring we continue to deliver a truly luxurious experience that offers guests only the best standards and showcases our hotel and its stunning location.”

Cameron House is a five-star resort situated on the banks of Loch Lomond. It offers a range of amenities, from Michelin star dining, seaplane trips and loch cruises to the ultimate relaxation spa and golf days. To find out more visit: www.cameronhouse.co.uk

Join Cameron House on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CameronHouseonLochLomond

Twitter: www.twitter.com/CameronHouseLL

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cameronhousehotel

An Edinburgh hotel that puts profits back into advancing surgical standards worldwide to improve patient outcomes is to undergo a major £8.5m 52 room expansion.

Following record occupancy numbers, Ten Hill Place is increasing to 129 rooms – close to a 70 per cent increase on its current provision of 77 rooms.

The expansion will sensitively renovate neighbouring Hill Place buildings, also currently owned by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) and used primarily as offices and by academics.

Operated by the college’s commercial arm, the hotel posted record turnover of £2.69m* in its last full recorded financial year – thanks to an impressive 88 per cent occupancy rate fuelled in part by highly positive TripAdvisor reviews.

Scott Mitchell, Commercial Director of RCSEd, said: “The tireless and inspiring work of the team involved with Ten Hill Place has given us this great opportunity to grow.

“In turn, our expansion will give us a greater platform to generate the profits that go directly towards improving lives for surgical patients all around the world – including those in areas of conflict and extreme poverty.

“As the number of visitors to Edinburgh has soared, we have been able to tap into the market and develop our reputation – meaning that the hotel is now busy all year round.

“Having initially targeted visiting academics, medical professionals and delegates to conferences; our customer base is now especially varied – especially during festival season and Hogmanay.”

RCSEd Commercial Enterprises – which started out as just three people and is now more than140 strong – will also rebrand to ‘Surgeons Quarter’ to mark the expansion of the organisation – with the full destination branding expected to be complete by Summer of 2018 to coincide with the conclusion of work at the hotel.

Capacity of the successful restaurant and wine bar will also be increased, and the expansion will provide space for a gym.

Scott added: “We are hopeful that the expansion will enable the hotel to deliver its full potential, furthering what we already currently provide, our food and drinks offerings, assisting our charitable aims and boosting tourism and hospitality jobs in Edinburgh.”

The Royal College is one of the most august institutions in Scotland. It provides education and assessment for medical students, surgical trainees and consultants and supports research to advance standards of care for the future. Surgeons trained and assessed through the College take their life-saving and life-changing skills all over the world.

The college’s Commercial Enterprises promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the College Campus, which includes arts and conferencing venue Surgeons’ Hall. All profits support the charitable aims of the College which are education, assessment and advancement in surgery.

As part of the major rebrand of the College’s commercial activities under the Surgeons Quarter banner, the collection of buildings situated around the historic Hill Square will also become known as Surgeons Quarter.

The rebranding will allow for the area to be a recognised destination and highlight the scale of the venues within it. Each of the settings operated by the Surgeons Quarter team will also become recognised with the distinct @Surgeons Quarter, again tying in the destination brand.

*For Year End June 2015-May 2016.

The UK’s fastest growing upscale brand today announced the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport. A renovation programme overseen by Hilton has seen the hotel convert to a DoubleTree by Hilton property.

While a convenient and relaxing destination for airport-bound travellers, the hotel is just seven miles from the vibrant and exciting city centre of Edinburgh. The hotel has excellent accessibility to public transport, with the tram and bus route on its doorstep. Guests can travel into the city centre to experience local historic and cultural attractions including Edinburgh Castle, Princess Street, Royal Yacht Britannia and Murrayfield Stadium – the home of Scottish Rugby.

Following the £2.5 million investment, the property boasts 150 newly refurbished guestrooms, as well as The Space Restaurant which offers an all-day dining menu serving traditional Scottish dishes. The hotel also features 22 meeting rooms all with natural daylight and modern décor. The onsite LivingWell Leisure Club has also benefited from considerable investment as part of the rebrand.

Chris Lynch, general manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport, said, “Edinburgh’s tourism market is rapidly growing year on year as is the desire for travellers to stay at an airport location. DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport is ideally located two minutes away from the main airport terminal and only 25 minutes away from the city centre. I am certain that the hotel’s range of facilities and fantastic refurbishment will cater to the needs of business and leisure travellers”

DoubleTree by Hilton’s kind and welcoming service is felt immediately with a warm Chocolate Chip Cookie presented to guests upon arrival. The hotel provides guests with a full complement of services and DoubleTree by Hilton brand amenities, including the Wake Up DoubleTree Breakfast, and an assortment of in-room tea and coffee offerings.

Since launching in the UK in 2008 the DoubleTree by Hilton portfolio includes 32 properties operating, with recent additions being DoubleTree by Hilton Strathclyde, DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol North, DoubleTree by Hilton Dartford Bridge, and DoubleTree by Hilton Southampton. Furthermore, more than 90 DoubleTree properties will be operating across Europe, Middle East and Africa by the end of 2016.

As part of the Hilton portfolio of brands, guests of Edinburgh Airport are also encouraged to participate in Hilton HHonors, Hilton’s free-to-join loyalty program. Hilton HHonors members who book directly with Hilton save time and money and gain instant access to the benefits they care about most, including:
• An exclusive member rate at more than 4,800 hotels worldwide
• Instant benefits, such as free Wi-Fi, the ability to earn and redeem Points for free nights as well as access to digital check-in with room selection and Digital Key
• Unforgettable, exclusive experiences, available via Points at HHonors.com/auctions, such as access to private concerts or sought-after events.

DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport is located at Eastfield Road, Edinburgh Airport. For more information or to make a reservation, travellers may visit DoubleTreeEdinburghAirport.com or call 0131 519 4400.

Media may access additional information on DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport at news.doubletree.com/EdinburghAirport. For more news on DoubleTree by Hilton hotel openings, visit news.doubletree.com.

Gleneagles Hotel are delighted to be named among the top ten hotels in the country, on the Hoteliers’ Hotels Top 100 list!

The full list, as voted for by the UK’s leading hoteliers and verified by some of the nation’s pre-eminent hotel experts, was recently unveiled by The Caterer and Sky.

The Caterer reported: “Contributors to the voting included past Hoteliers of the Year, and Catey and Hotel Catey winners, as well as members of organisations such as Pride of Britain Hotels, Relais & Châteaux and the Master Innholders. Hoteliers were not permitted to vote for their own hotel or one within their group.

Bronwyn de Cholewa, director – hotels, Sky, added: “Sky is delighted to once again support the Hoteliers’ Hotels Top 100. We are committed to providing the best TV entertainment to help the UK’s best and finest hotels enhance the guest experience, and so we’re proud to be associated with these awards, which recognise the exceptional level of detail that goes into ensuring every guest has a perfect stay.”

Conor O’Leary, Hotel Manager at Gleneagles, commented: “We are delighted to be ranked among the top ten hotels in the UK within this prestigious league table. Securing this position is testament to our unwavering commitment to providing outstanding guest experience.”

The Edinburgh Collection, a member of Palm Holdings has announced the expansion of its UK portfolio with the acquisition of The Tune Hotel in Edinburgh.

The hotel has 189 bedrooms and provides efficiently designed space for the modern traveller and has been re-branded as the Haymarket Hub Hotel due to the Hotel’s proximity to the city’s Haymarket Station and enhanced technology offering for guests.

Located in Edinburgh’s West End, it sits directly opposite Edinburgh’s Haymarket Station with its direct train lines to and from London Kings Cross, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness. The hotel also benefits from access to Edinburgh Airport via the Airlink bus and tram service.

The new “business class” offering will include enhanced facilities and inclusive services for traveller convenience. The contemporary and innovative design maximises bedroom space and each room offers superior quality beds from Hypnos, power showers and luxury toiletries. Guests can stay connected throughout their visit with Handy smart phones – the first to arrive in Scotland. With free data and free UK and internationals calls to 10 countries including Australia, China, India & USA they can stay in touch 24/7 inside and outside the hotel. The smart phones will enable users to access the latest city news, events, discover the best restaurants and bars and explore the capital using Google maps.

Going forward, In-Room Entertainment will enable guests to watch the latest films and sports. There are also plans to expand the lounge area with an Illy Café with plenty of USB ports and charging points for mobile phones and lap tops.

Ricky Kapoor, Managing Director of the Edinburgh Collection, says:
“This new addition to our Edinburgh portfolio will enable us to further meet the demands of a variety of visitors and travellers to Scotland’s capital.
The Haymarket Hub Hotel is about being Connected, Exploring the City and Recharging, an exciting new concept which will satisfy even the most discerning of today’s modern travellers including the Millennials. The Edinburgh Collection is now very well placed to provide a variety of accommodation styles for those looking for luxury breaks to corporate and leisure visitors seeking excellent value for money. Each of our Edinburgh venues offers its own unique character and appeal.”

Sheetal Kapoor, Group CEO, Palm Holdings, commented “we are extremely excited with this UK acquisition as it follows on the heels of the purchase of the Holiday Inn Orlando SW Celebration Area only six weeks ago and makes us one step closer to achieving a total room count of in excess of 2000 rooms.”

For further information on the Haymarket Hub Hotel and reservations please visit www.haymarkethubhotel.com or telephone 0131 347 9700

Global chain MGM Muthu Hotels, which already has a strong foothold in the UK, has moved into the Scottish market, with the acquisition of five prominent hotels, in a deal facilitated by property firm Colliers International.

The largest deal sees Ian Cleaver’s Highland Heritage Limited sold, from the asking price of offers in excess of £4.5m, to Singapore-headquartered MGM Muthu Group. A former merchant seaman and well-known North West businessman, Mr Cleaver started Highland Heritage in the mid-1970s, and built it into a £8m turnover company, which uses its own fleet of 16 liveried coaches to shuttle tourists to the hotels in Tyndrum, Dalmally and Oban.

The deal, in which Colliers International acted for the seller, comes shortly after the commercial property firm successfully sold another iconic Highland hotel to The MGM Muthu Group, the 63-bedroom Newton Hotel in Nairn. The Newton was once popular with Charlie Chaplin, who took numerous holidays there with his family. It was sold by Colliers on behalf of a London-based corporate owner which was seeking to rationalise its portfolio, and carried an asking price of around £4.0m plus VAT.

Alistair Letham, the Scottish Director in the UK Hotels Agency team at Colliers International, said: “These two sales to a rapidly expanding international operator are a great outcome for everyone involved. Muthu is an ambitious luxury chain which will be well positioned to further develop the potential of these excellent properties in a way that will be welcomed by the local economy. We are pleased to have used our market expertise and international connections to bring about these deals, which see businesses that have invested and grown in the Highlands reap their rewards, and properties move on to the next stage of their history and growth.”

The Highland Heritage Limited sale includes the Volvo coaches and four hotels: the 96-room Royal Hotel, which is a magnet for wildlife, with a masterful touch of stunning views, and the 132-room purpose-built Ben Doran Hotel, nestled in its own sheltered seven-acre garden in the mountain village, on the northern edge of the Loch Lomond National Park, both in Tyndrum. The Dalmally Hotel is a true haven with 99 rooms, commanding breath-taking views in the heart of Strathorchy, perfectly situated to make the most of the historical, cultural and natural delights of Argyll and Bute. The 66-bedroom Alexandra Hotel in Oban, with 26 more rooms in planning, offers gorgeous views across the Oban Bay.

Julian Troup, Head of UK Hotels Agency at Colliers International, commented: “Considerable interest was expressed for the business and assets, which follows a pattern of increasing demand for U.K. provincial hotels. We are seeing an emerging trend of increased demand for quality provincial hotel opportunities from a diverse buyer set, including international investors, who have been attracted by weaker sterling and improving trading prospects; private buyers attracted to the benefits of a lifestyle opportunity to corporate investors attracted to favourable returns and real estate alternatives. Since the beginning of 2016, over 15 per cent of U.K. hotel sales completed by Colliers were to international buyers.”

The MGM Muthu Hotels Group is known for its selection of carefully handpicked spectacular hotels, reflecting the unique character of their destinations, varying from Spain, Portugal, France, Cuba, Canary Islands, Madeira and the UK. MGM Muthu Hotels currently has 27 hotels in their flourishing portfolio, promising excellent service and a touch of home, with a holiday ambience.

Monicca Maran, Corporate Director of MGM Muthu Group and K.Ranjan, CEO of Highgate Asset Management Ltd, who assisted with the acquisitions, said “We are extremely thrilled about the five properties that spell a surreal scenery magically enveloped in the enchanting views of Scotland! Our premium service, excellent standards and charismatic hospitality entwined with the deep appreciation of the historical and cultural landscapes of the hotels will embellish our need to diversify our portfolio, to extend to the community and provide the best holiday experience to all travellers.”

The Highland Heritage sale did not include Kilchurn Castle, the 15th century redoubt of the Clan Cambell on the banks of Loch Awe, which is owned by Mr Cleaver and had been offered for sale alongside his hospitality business. It is currently managed by Historic Scotland.