Hospitality veterans join the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels

Bruce Ritchie and Suzanne Davies
Bruce Ritchie and Suzanne Davies

Two key senior management appointments have been made at the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels ahead of its busy summer season.

The company has welcomed Bruce Ritchie as director of operations at its flagship Crieff Hydro Hotel, while Suzanne Davies has been appointed head of sales and events across the group’s portfolio.

Bringing nearly 45 years of combined industry experience, Bruce and Suzanne take on their new roles at the group as it prepares to welcome summer guests from around the world to its eight venues.

Bruce has long been a prominent figure within Scotland’s hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors. After cutting his teeth as event manager at The Gleneagles Hotel throughout the 1990s, he led operations for a number of prominent companies including Hampden Park and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, as well as managing the commercial year-round operations for the Edinburgh International Festival.

Bruce said: “I’m really excited to be part of this iconic hotel within Scotland’s hospitality sector.

“I’m thrilled to have joined a team that takes such pride in everything they do, from the menus and service to the brilliant rooms on offer. Everyone has made me feel so welcome so far, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

“We have big plans in the pipelines for Crieff Hydro hotel and I’m looking forward to continuing to develop our product to take the customer experience to a level we’ve never seen before.

“The resort’s stunning backdrop offers a unique opportunity to create lasting memories for families for generations to come and I’m truly honoured to be able to play a part in that.”

Suzanne brings a proven track record in driving sales and group revenue management, with 14 years of experience in the events and hospitality sector, having previously overseen event sales for Historic Environment Scotland – including at major locations such as Edinburgh and Stirling castles – and led the group sales team at The Gleneagles Hotel.

Her new role at Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels will see her head up strategic event sales and overseeing the implementation of a new MICE strategy across the eight properties within its portfolio.

She said: “There is so much potential to grow the events side of our business and I’m looking forward to seeing how that will develop over the coming months and years.

“I’m really passionate about helping our team to develop our events offering to ensure we consistently exceed client expectations. Whether you are a day visitor, conference delegate or a private guest, we want everyone to have a memorable and positive experience at our properties, so delivering an exceptional experience every time is key.”

CEO of Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, Stephen Leckie, commented: “Both Suzanne and Bruce are fantastic additions to the Crieff Hydro team.

“They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their roles, with more than four decades of hospitality and tourism experience between them, and I am confident their appointments will help to ensure the continued success of our portfolio of hotels.”