Owner pays tribute to parents as Highland establishment crowned Scotland’s best three-star hotel
The owner of a family-run Highland hotel has paid tribute to his parents after receiving the accolade of Scotland’s best three-star hotel.
North Kessock Hotel was crowned at the Prestige Scottish Hotel Awards and for owner Darren Maclachlan, the art of conversation and taking the time to sit with people can make all the difference.
He said: “It was a very humbling time after the awards ceremony. For the forty years our family has owned the business we have never once put ourselves forward for an award.
“My manager Iain Matheison, thought it would be a good idea to try our luck so we did. When we received confirmation that we had been accepted we had a visit from the judges who stayed with us and dined also.
“I took the pleasure of sitting down with them after they had their food which proved to be a turning point for us, as the judge stated to my wife after receiving the award, that in the last six years of grading places, no owner or manager has taken the time to explain a wee bit about the place and its history.”
Nine members of staff attended the awards ceremony in Glasgow and ‘had a ball’ which was topped off by winning the award.
Mr Maclachlan added: “A massive thank you must go to all staff here past and present and of course all customers without both of these we don’t have a business.
“Losing both my parents in the last couple of years has been difficult for our family, hopefully we’ve got some super proud parents looking down on us all.”
