Crerar digs deep for charity

SCOTTISH hospitality group Crerar Hotels closed out 2020 in charitable form with the donation of £200,000 to various charities.

The company, which operates seven properties across Scotland, distributed the money to charities close to its sites as well as to several Scotland-wide organisations.

Beneficiaries included MND Scotland, Prince’s Trust and NHS Local Heroes.

The funds were allocated just before Christmas and bring the company’s total charity donations to £8.5 million over the past decade.

Crerar pledges 50% of its distributable profits to charitable causes every year.

Chief executive Chris Wayne-Wills said: “We are delighted that despite the difficult circumstances created by COVID-19, Crerar Hotels is still able to support a significant number of charities in 2020. It is our privilege to keep giving something back to them and particularly in a time which has been so challenging for all.

“Our continued community commitment is very important to us within Crerar; it’s in our DNA. For every stay our customers have with us they are supporting others who really need it.

“It is great for our folk in the hotels to see their hard work and efforts helping people in their own communities as well as those from throughout the whole of Scotland.”

Crerar Hotels founder Paddy Crerar said that, due to the pandemic, the contribution “feels like just a teardrop in a torrent”.

“We will do more when we can,” he said. “Sadly, it will be a few years to recover what COVID-19 has stolen – once we do, our local gifting will get fully back on track.”