Andy Murray has served a quickfire ace after the historic hotel acquired and refurbished by his family was named Scottish Hotel of the Year.
Cromlix, which re-opened at the start of April near the Wimbledon and Olympic tennis champion’s home at Dunblane in Perthshire, took the top prize at the 2014 Scottish Hotel Awards in Edinburgh on Sunday night.
“This superbly balanced combination of solid investment, vision and hugely experienced management has made Cromlix the unanimous choice of judges this year”, said awards’ chairman Gary McLean Quin. “Hotels often have sizeable sums of money spent on them but that’s only half the battle. What impressed us – and specifically enabled this award – was the involvement of award-winning management and individuals in every department – people of excellence we have known for a decade. The result is no less than a national treasure. We must also pay tribute to Andy’s mother Judy who has undoubtedly played a great part in this transformation.”
The winners
The Awards, presented at a sell-out gala dinner in Edinburgh attended by over 500 hoteliers and their guests, are Scotland’s most comprehensive awards programme for the hotel and accommodation industry.
Established in 2003, this year they were divided into nine regions with the Hotel of the Year selected from the overall national winners of the main categories. Awards were presented by Fergus Ewing, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism.
Host venue the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa took two major awards, for Business Hotel of the Year and Service Excellence.
The Restaurant of the Year category was won by Galvin Brasserie de Luxe at The Caledonian Waldorf Astoria in Edinburgh, recently re-launched following a £24 million investment and renovation programme. The Rising Star Restaurant title went to the Kildrummy Inn in Abrdeenshire while Brand Hotel of the Year was secured by the DoubleTree by Hilton in Dundee.
Jody Marshall was named Hotel Manager of the Year. He is the General Manager of Ballathie House, the 53 bedroom hotel on the banks of the River Tay at Kinclaven in Perthshire, which took regional awards for Country House Hotel and Service Excellence.
Tanya Lister and Sonia Virechauveix of the Kylesku Hotel at Lairg in Sutherland took the award for Hoteliers of the Year.
“We might send any owners of a small hotel to Kylesku to see for themselves how it should be done!” commented Gary McLean Quin. Hotel Team of the Year went to Culloden House at Inverness.
Nicholas Russell, longstanding Director and co-proprietor of Balibirnie House at Markinch in Fife, received a Fellowship Award for his outstanding contribution to Scotland’s hospitality industry.
2014 Scottish Hotels of the Year
- Scottish Hotel of the Year
Cromlix - B&B/Guest House of the Year
Craigmhor Lodge & Courtyard - Bar of the Year
Blythswood Square - Boutique Hotel of the Year
Cairn Lodge & Hotel - Brand Hotel of the Year
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Dundee - Business Hotel of the Year
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh - City Hotel of the Year
Malmaison Dundee - Country House Hotel of the Year
Tiroran House Hotel - Events Hotel of the Year
Crowne Plaza Glasgow - Exclusive use Venue of the Year
The Parsonage - Family Hotel of the Year
Crieff Hydro - Informal Dining Restaurant of the Year
Auchrannie Resort - Luxury Hotel of the Year
Cromlix - New Hotel of the Year
The Chester Hotel - Restaurant of the Year
The Caledonian, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel - Romantic Hotel of the Year
Knock Castle Hotel and Spa - Rural Hotel of the Year
Fonab Castle Hotel - Service Excellence Hotel of the Year
Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh - Serviced Apartments of the Year
Fraser Suites Glasgow - Small Country Hotel of the Year
Glenisle Hotel - Spa of the Year
The Caledonian, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel - Style Hotel of the Year
The Glasshouse - Town Hotel of the Year
The Tontine Hotel - Wedding Hotel of the Year
Balbirnie House