Sutherland four-star hotels to have extended opening
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Sutherland’s four-star hotels, the Royal Marine in Brora and Royal Golf at Dornoch, will have extended opening this year and plan to make the most of 2020 being designated Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters.
David Sutherland, chairman of both hotels, said: "With the spectacular beaches, firth and rivers, Brora and Dornoch are well located to take advantage of marketing on the back of the Scottish Government’s Year of Coasts and Waters promotion.
“It is an important tool to drive forward the hotels’ business and we’re projecting good growth in both Royal Marine and Royal Golf this year with managers Gail Sutherland and Robert Ratcliffe heading up effective teams.”
Iain Watson, North Highland Escapes’ leisure operations director, revealed that the Royal Golf, which reopens on Valentine’s weekend, is eight per cent up on accommodation bookings from the same time last year.
“Some 85 per cent of the year-round business is golf-related, and 50 per cent of that is from Americans, who love the fact the hotel is five yards from the first tee at Royal Dornoch,” he explained.
“We also have golf visitors from Japan and a range of other countries. We are investigating the introduction of a golfers’ bar with informal dining, for which there is great demand.
“The hotel has been open for parts of the winter when it has been closed for many years and new chef Michael Carr has helped attract a significant number of additional diners, both local people and visitors alike.
“In 2019, as well as a good rise in accommodation, we registered an impressive increase in food and drink sales – and this year we project it could be even higher.
Mr Watson added that the Royal Golf, which enjoyed a surge in weekend break bookings in the shoulder months, may only close in December and January next winter.
The Royal Marine has converted the former pool area to a function and conference suite, which can seat 150 people, linking to its Garden Room.
A focus on events, using the new facility, is being driven and Mr Watson projects a six per cent increase in accommodation bookings this year.
“We ran a Hogmanay dine and accommodation package which was very busy,” he said. “And we’ve just held our first wedding fayre which triggered three wedding bookings for us. A ladies' prosecco day proved a hit so we’re arranging another for June.
“A Valentine’s Weekend Michael Bublé Tribute Night is arranged for February 15, we have an Elvis tribute evening on May 2 and we have a Sunday lunch with football speaker Tam Cowan on April 19.
“Caithness Chamber of Commerce is keen to work with us on promotions, while Brora Rangers are partnering us with a special deal with match ticket, hospitality at Dudgeon Park plus dinner, bed and breakfast at the Royal Marine, all for £99 per person. For a further £20 you can play a round of golf at Brora Golf Club. We’ve taken bookings already for this innovative package.”
The two hotels give employment to 60 people.
David Sutherland stressed that the two four-star hotels are strategically located and an invaluable resource for the area, keen to increase their contribution to the East Sutherland economy.
Both hotels were involved in a project to support the doubling of capacity of the chronic pain relief suite at Lawson Memorial Hotel, Golspie.
