Owner of Perthshire's landmark Crieff Hydro hotel unveils 'key' appointments

The Scottish hotel group that owns the landmark Crieff Hydro in Perthshire has bolstered its senior management team ahead of the peak summer and autumn seasons.

Gavin Edwards and Ryan Gourlay pictured outside the Crieff Hydro hotel and resort.

Gavin Edwards becomes head of learning and development at Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, while Ryan Gourlay takes on a new role as IT technical manager. The group’s portfolio also includes the Murraypark Hotel in Crieff, Peebles Hydro, Taypark House in Dundee and Ballachulish Hotel.

Edwards joins the hotel group from Glasgow-based Klarent Hospitality, where he spent more than four years supporting the progression of the workforce at hotel brands such as Hilton and Mercure. His role at Crieff will involve an overhaul of the group’s onboarding process, while building on the internal training schemes and employee development programmes currently on offer. Gourlay, meanwhile, joined the Crieff Hydro family in 2014 as an IT support technician, after being made redundant following his previous role as an IT apprentice at Microspec Computer in Falkirk. A “commitment to developing internal talent within the company” has been further spotlighted with the appointment of Niall Kelly, who takes on the role of IT operations manager working alongside Gourlay.

Stephen Leckie, chief executive of Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, said: “It’s great to welcome Gavin to the business, whilst promoting Niall and Ryan from within the portfolio, and we are certain that these key appointments will bring continued success to the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels. We are proud of the fantastic employee culture we have created across our portfolio of hotels, and with the appetite for staycations remaining strong, there has never been a better time to pursue a career in Scotland’s hospitality sector. We’re all about creating unforgettable memories for our guests – and the only way we’ll do that is with a fantastic team at the helm.”

Edwards added: “I’m very excited to be joining the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels at a crucial time for Scotland’s hospitality sector. It’s no secret that the industry is facing recruitment challenges and that’s why building a strong portfolio of excellent career progression opportunities for our team is so important to us.”