Ross Clark has been appointed as director of operations at The Caledonian Edinburgh, ahead of a planned £35 million investment by its management company, Klarent Hospitality.
The Caledonian, located in the heart of the city, is entering a new phase of its 120-year history, having just become part of the Curio Collection by Hilton.
Glasgow-based Klarent, which manages a portfolio of Henderson Park-owned hotels across the UK and Europe, including five Hilton Hotels across the Central Belt of Scotland, is investing £35 million to ‘ensure that the unique essence of the hotel is brought to life for the next generation of guests’.
Clark, who comes to the director of operations post with over 20 years of industry experience, is to play a key role in leading this transformation.
He joined The Caledonian in 2016 as food and beverage manager, most recently serving as its director of food and beverage. He is said to have spearheaded multiple successful initiatives during his tenure and was awarded F&B Manager of the Year at the Hotel Cateys awards in 2023.
Clark will now lead hotel operations, playing a guiding role in the hotel’s transformation, as well as championing the ESG policy. His priority is to focus on guest satisfaction, team morale, and profitability.
Clark said: “I am honoured to take on the position of director of operations at The Caledonian Edinburgh as we begin a new chapter for our 120th anniversary. Our team’s unwavering dedication and enthusiasm is what makes the Caley truly special. I am excited to lead our team as we elevate our offering and continue to create exceptional experiences for guests.”
General manager of The Caledonian Edinburgh, Nitin Ramtri, said: “With his extensive experience and passion for hospitality, we are confident that Ross will play a key role in driving our continued success during this exciting period of transformation.”
At the same time, marketing communications agency Red Brick Road has been appointed by Klarent Hospitality to help with the rebrand and repositioning of The Caledonian Edinburgh.
CEO of Red Brick Road, David Miller, said: “We feel incredibly lucky to be working on such an iconic hotel in one of the most coveted locations in Edinburgh. The rebrand project brings together Red Brick Road’s rich capabilities across, strategy, creative, production, PR and social. The brand refresh brings the hotel stories to life and will keep the deep heritage intact, create lasting memories for future guests.”
Chief executive of Klarent Hospitality, Peter Stack, added: “As custodians of this landmark hotel, we have committed to the significant investment and transformation that will see The Caledonian as a world-renowned, leading hotel at the heart of Edinburgh. Selecting a great marketing agency partner has been an important part of the project and we are delighted with the work Red Brick Road have delivered.”
