Visitors to Scotland’s North Coast 500 tourist route can be sure of a good night’s sleep thanks to a new partnership between Highland Coast Hotels and local social enterprise, Highland BlindCraft Beds.
The pioneering hotel group is now working with the Inverness-based charity and ethical business to install over 220 handcrafted beds, mattresses and headboards across all its landmark venues around the north Highlands.
Founded in 1881, Highland BlindCraft is a renowned manufacturer and retailer of high-quality bed products, all handmade in its factory by skilled craftspeople each living with a disability – the only organisation of its kind in the Scottish Highlands.
The firm has provided training and employment opportunities to individuals living with visual impairments and other disabilities across the Highlands for over 140 years.
CEO of Highland BlindCraft, Deirdre Aitken, said: “We’re delighted to provide Highland Coast Hotels with beds, mattresses and headboards for properties across the group – ensuring every guest has the best night’s sleep imaginable, set against a backdrop of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery.
“Hotel guests can sleep soundly knowing that every purchase has helped provide education and employment for people in the Highlands living with visual impairments and other disabilities.
“We’re committed to reinvesting our profits into providing opportunities for people in our communities that might otherwise struggle to find skilled employment and are grateful to Highland Coast Hotels for their continued support,” said Aitken.
CEO of Highland Coast Hotels, Guy Crawford, added: “We’re extremely proud to be supporting Highland BlindCraft as the region’s leading manufacturer of quality, handcrafted beds.
“By working with Highland BlindCraft, we’re not only offering our guests the ‘best night’s sleep imaginable’, but we’re helping to improve the quality of life for local people living with disabilities of all kinds.”
Since 2021, Highland Coast Hotels has acquired seven of the region’s landmark hotels, including the award-winning Kylesku Hotel; Newton Lodge; Tongue Hotel; Plockton Inn; Royal Golf Hotel Dornoch; Royal Marine Hotel Brora; and more recently Lochardil House in Inverness.
