Scotlands Hotel of the Year is a class Apart Edinburghs Chester Residence takes hospitality crown

The rising popularity of aparthotels has seen one beat conventional establishments for the first time by being named the top hotel in Scotland. The Chester Residence, a collection of five-star Georgian townhouses in Edinburghs West End, took the top prize at the Scottish Hotel Awards, attended by a record 500 guests at a gala dinner in Glasgow. Owned by Wood Group Chairman Sir Ian Woods son Graham (pictured holding the trophy with the Chester Residence team at the Awards), its 23 homes have their own front door and kitchen as well as central hotel facilities. Dining options include booking a chef or a mixologist to prepare cocktails. Guest feedback was rich with detail of how staff service led the way at the Chester Residence and this was mirrored in feedback from our reviewers, said Gary McLean Quin, Chairman of the awards judges. Over several years the judging team has also watched the hotels progress in the quality and detail of the outstanding bedrooms, suites and public areas. It is emphatically a style of hotel that has seen its market mature and become more popular. People like the additional space and privacy while, at the Chester Residence, there are public areas, an innovative bar and food operation, supported by a level of service that has patently delighted guests. He added: Its owners and manager Rory MacAleece have created a superb modern city hotel of high quality, fashionable and yet practical, with detailed design and service independently acclaimed over several years by guests including visitors to Scotland.

The other shortlisted finalists were the Sheraton Grand in Edinburgh, CitizenM and Grand Central hotels in Glasgow, the Malmaison in Aberdeen, Meldrum House in Aberdeenshire, Greywalls at Gullane in East Lothian and Hotel Missoni in Edinburgh. There was another family success for Sir Ian Wood, head of the ship repair and marine engineering company and major donor to the projected Union Terrace Gardens development in Aberdeen: the Kyloe Grill at the Rutland Hotel in Edinburgh, owned by Grahams brother Garreth (eds: spelling correct) and Nic Wood, was named Scotland most exciting new hotel restaurant. Laurie Nicol, General Manager of Glasgows Grand Central Hotel, was named Manager of the Year. The Grand Central, opened in 2010 after a 20 million refurbishment, also won the Hotel Team of the Year Award. The Senior Manager fellowship went to Mark Gallagher of the Thistle Glasgow. The Road Hole Grill at the Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, was voted Hotel Restaurant of the Year and Hotel Chef of the Year went to 39-year-old John Paul McLachlan who opened his signature restaurant at the 83 bedroom Macdonald Marine Hotel, North Berwick, in 2011. Hotels in the Highlands and Islands occupied five of the places on the Romantic Hotel shortlist, with Ardanaiseig Hotel near Taynuilt, Argyll, taking the lead award. The turreted Alt na Craig, which looks out over Oban Bay, was named Guest House of the Year while nearby the design-led Ardtorna guest house won both the Bed & Breakfast Design and Green awards. The New Hotel of Award went to the Douglas Hotel at Brodick, Arran, whose owner Sean Henry flew in specially from his home in St Petersburg, Russia, for the black tie event. Hotelier of the Year was Steven McLeod, head of the Aurora group which recently added Cairn Lodge, Auchterarder, to its collection. Auroras other properties include Airth Castle near Falkirk, Kenmore Castle and Lodges on the River Tay, and Glenbervie House at Larbert. Hotel Management Group of the Year was Inverlochy Castle Management International (ICMI). Judges praised its continuing remarkable growth with

three properties added to its portfolio in the past year: Alladale Wilderness Lodge in Sutherland in the northern Highlands, the Atholl Hotel in Edinburgh where an outsize suite costs from 1,500 a night, and the Rocpool Apartments in the capital. The Atholl took the Luxury Hotel title. ICMIs Chief Executive, Norbert Lieder, was given the highest individual honour - the Awards Fellowship. The scheme, now in its ninth year, is by far the most comprehensive in operation in Scotland and includes thousands of guest feedback nominations, peer reviews by over 40 industry experts, and full-stay judging and interview visits. Gary McLean Quin commented: These awards have a unique approach: each single hotel, guest house and serviced apartment provider is looked at individually and in depth in order that our team can encourage, motivate and reward excellence. We often work with businesses to develop improvements. Hotels are, in turn, also carefully and expertly compared on a national level to create a specific, accurate guide for guests.

Other Awards included: Conference Hotel of the Year - The Beardmore, Clydebank Business Hotel of the Year - Hilton Garden Inn, Glasgow International Resort Hotel - Gleneagles, Perthshire Brand Hotel - Holiday Inn, Aberdeen West Reception Team - Hilton Garden Inn, Aberdeen Housekeeper - Louise Doig, George Hotel, Edinburgh Wedding Hotel - Balbirnie House, Markinch Spa - One Spa at the Sheraton Grand, Edinbrugh

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