Highland Coast Hotels has appointed Kenny McMillan as its first managing director, with a remit to drive growth for the group.
McMillan joins the business with over 37 years’ experience as a tourism and hospitality industry leader and mentor, including high profile roles as managing director of Macdonald Aviemore Resorts and general manager of Macdonald Drumossie Hotel.
Throughout his career, he is said to have put an emphasis on ‘building high-performing teams, which deliver exceptional guest experiences’.
Under McMillan’s leadership, the Drumossie Hotel won Employer of the Year in the 2023 Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards, and in 2024, he was himself shortlisted for Leader of the Year in the Highland Business Awards.
In his earlier career, Kenny held several head chef roles across the Macdonald Hotels portfolio, and was named Executive Chef of the Year in the 2015 Scottish Hotel Awards.
He is also a former Ambassador for the Highland Tourism CIC, board member for the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards, and Visit Inverness and Loch Ness.
Kenny joins Highland Coast Hotels as the group prepares to celebrate the tenth anniversary of North Coast 500 tourism initiative which quite literally put it on the map.
Strung along that spectacular coastal route, the group has seven landmark properties, including Lochardil House in Inverness, Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch, Royal Marine Hotel in Brora, Tongue Hotel, Newton Lodge and Kylesku Hotel.
McMillan said: “It’s a real privilege to live and work in one of the world’s most beautiful regions. The North Highlands is where I raised my own family and where I’ve built my hospitality career over the last 20 years.
“I’m really excited to be joining a team who are so dedicated to delivering world-class guest itinerary experiences across Highland Coast Hotels’ collection of seven landmark hotels on the NC500, including Inverness as the hub of this iconic route.
“2025 is a significant milestone for this world-famous route as it marks its tenth anniversary. This occasion presents an ideal opportunity for us at Highland Coast Hotels to drive growth and help boost the local visitor economy, whilst continuing in our focus on generating a sustainable and community-led business.”
HCH also owns and operates Plockton Inn, which is located in the Wester Ross village of Plockton, on a sheltered bay overlooking Loch Carron.
Kenny added: “Highland Coast Hotels is committed to providing year-round employment opportunities and community-led hospitality in Plockton. As well as growing the local tourism economy, we hope to create lasting professional careers in hospitality that will benefit the whole community.”
Highland Coast Hotels’ CEO Guy Crawford will now step back from his current accountabilities and focus as a non-executive board director in supporting Kenny and the company to deliver a sustainable business in the region.
Crawford said: “We’re delighted to welcome Kenny as our first managing director at Highland Coast Hotels. He is a well-respected and experienced industry leader, who knows the North Highland tourism and hospitality sector and help us build on the strong growth in revenue over these last years.
“We are committed to making a positive contribution to tourism, local community life and the vitally important North Highland economy.”
