A revamped historic hotel has been launched as part of a portfolio of properties in Scotland.
The newly refurbished Dunkeld House Hotel has also appointed interim general manager Paul Leitch, a hospitality veteran who has since secured a four-star AA rating for the hotel and AA Rosette for its estaurant.
The Perthshire resort hotel is owned by Fairtree, the UK-based group which acquired Crerar Hotels earlier this year.
It has now launched by the recently titled AA’s UK Small Hotel Group of the Year Crerar Hotels as its eighth property in Scotland
Dunkeld House Hotel’s brand and hospitality proposition is described as "a perfect fit for the well-established hotel group led by chief executive Chris Wayne-Wills", and joins the Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa, Oban Bay Hotel, Balmoral Arms in Ballater, Glencoe Inn, Thainstone House in Inverurie, Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa in Inverary and Golf View Hotel and Spa in Nairn, and “further raises its luxury profile as part of its impressive collection of four and five-star hotels and inns”.
The 100-bed four-star, luxury country house hotel set within a 280-acre estate of natural woodlands on the banks of the River Tay, offers guests all the decadence and period features of a country house but with modern-day amenities.
READ MORE: Scottish hotel group founder welcomes acquisition
The hotel recently underwent a major £800,000 refurbishment creating three new guest rooms and reimagining the flagship suites The Atholl and The Duchess. On completion of the suites, Dunkeld House partnered with The Highland Soap Company.
Future projects include the addition of eight high-end woodland lodges in the Woodland Dell, expansion to the leisure and spa facilities, expansion of the current restaurant and the addition of a new food and beverage offering.
Chris Wayne-Wills, chief executive of Crerar Hotels said: "We are delighted to welcome Dunkeld House Hotel into the Crerar Hotels collection.
"Its luxury, authentic hospitality offering is well aligned to our current portfolio and complements our existing mix of hotels well.
"Its recent investment also brings it in line with the high-quality experience people expect with Crerar Hotels."
He added: "Furthermore, we are committed to investing in training, recruitment and various opportunities for the Dunkeld House team to ensure it delivers on the experience people expect when they come to a Crerar Hotel and it’s great to bring Paul onboard as the interim General Manager to really drive that vision forward.
"By bringing Dunkeld House Hotel into our portfolio, we have a fantastic opportunity to use our wealth of experience to invest in it further to enhance the offering here and develop it as an all-encompassing luxury adventure resort within the Scottish Highlands.
"Dunkeld House Hotel is a perfect fit with Crerar Hotels and all we aspire to be. It’s a beautiful hotel in an unmatched location that offers an exceptional guest experience, and we are looking forward to building on the huge opportunity that the setting offers us to expand and enhance the offering within national and international audiences."
Dunkled House Hotel’s website states: “The hotel is steeped in history and was originally built as the country retreat of the 7th Duke of Atholl.
"Today it boasts one of Scotland’s most enviable hotel settings and offers guests all the decadence and period features of a country house hotel with the modern-day amenities and luxuries you’ve come to expect of a four-star Scottish accommodation provider."
Popular Perthshire food hall bought by garden centre firm
An upmarket farm store in the popular Perthshire tourist town of Crieff has changed hands.
The Crieff Food Company, an award-winning food hall, café, and gift shop, has been sold by founder and local farmer Jamie Landale to the Klondyke Group. Klondyke operates a portfolio of more than 20 garden centres across Scotland, England, and Wales. The sale of The Crieff Food Company, which Mr Landale established in 2017 in a former Edinburgh Woollen Mill store, was brokered by Christie & Co.
Fresh doubt cast on hopes of green jobs boom
Oil and gas firms have underlined the potential of the North Sea as experts highlighted the challenges that stand in the way of the development of the offshore renewable energy industry and related supply chain.
A survey found industry leaders have serious doubts about the ability of UK firms to compete in global markets for the production of turbines and the like in a judgement that will dampen hopes of a green jobs boom in Scotland. The findings of a study for the Newton Europe consultancy also highlighted concerns that the development of offshore renewables will be delayed by problems accessing the grid and suitable ports infrastructure.
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