A NEW Scottish hotels group has ambitions to develop a collection of quality hotels on the North Coast 500 tourist route after snapping up four properties.
Highland Coast Hotels has acquired the Kylesku Hotel and Newton Lodge in Kylesku, the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch and the Royal Marine Hotel in Brora.
The properties – which are all to retain their individual names and identities – will now form the “backbone” of the new group as it looks to add additional properties in the area to its portfolio.
The company is fronted by chairman David Whiteford and chief executive Roddy Watt.
Whiteford said the Highland Coast Hotels team is “delighted to be building on the work of previous custodians of such fine, landmark hotel properties”.
“With the aim of developing a collection of high quality hotels on and around the increasingly popular and successful North Coast 500 touring route, these hotels represent a very exciting first step in building our portfolio,” said Whiteford.
“We are very aware they are held in great affection by many regular guests, and this is a responsibility we take very seriously as we develop them for the good of the local communities, our employees, our suppliers and our stakeholders.”
Watt said the company’s ambition “is to be recognised as the leading group of independent-spirited hotels on and around the route”.
“We envisage that our substantial investment in the next few years will support sustainable growth in local Highland communities, extend the traditional season, and create many more full-time career opportunities within the hospitality sector,” said Watt.
“Our hotels will offer a broadening range of opportunities to our guests to immerse themselves in what the region has to offer.
“Crucially, we intend to do all of this while being environmentally sensitive and protecting and preserving one of the most beautiful and fragile landscapes in the UK, and one of Europe’s last great wildlands.”
