City hotels stay ahead of the rest

The Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa, winners of the Banqueting Team of the Year award. Picture: Greg Macvean

The Guerlain Spa, which was part of the £24 million investment and renovation programme undertaken at the five-star hotel three years ago, was honoured at a ceremony which saw a number of top Capital hotels praised for the quality of their service and facilities on offer to guests.

City rival The Balmoral saw Gary Quinn of its Michelin-starred restaurant Number One named restaurant manager of the year at the Scottish Hotel Awards, while the title of chef of the year went to Tony Sarton of Twenty Princes Street at the Royal British Hotel.

Meanwhile, Hotel Indigo Edinburgh in York Place was given the title of Brand Hotel of the Year at the ceremony in Glasgow.

“It was yet another grand night for Edinburgh, showing the range and high quality of its hotels and other accommodation,” said Hotel Awards spokesman Scott Thornton.

“The Capital’s reputation for food and service was reinforced by Tony Sarton’s success as Hotel Chef of the Year and Gary Quinn’s winning the title of Restaurant Manager of the Year.”

Ten Hill Place – which is owned by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and puts profits back into training doctors – won Conference Hotel of the Year, while the Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa was praised for its catering team, which won the title of Banqueting Team of the Year.

Newcomer Nira Caledonia, in the New Town, was named City Hotel of the Year, while the Old Town Chambers won in the serviced apartments category.

Dale MacPhee, Waldorf Astoria Caledonian general manager, said: “We are thrilled to retain the Spa of the Year Award having won it in 2013 and 2014. Winning is recognition for each member of staff in our Guerlain Spa and a great demonstration of teamwork.”

Tristan Nesbitt, general manager at the Sheraton, said: “This is the third consecutive year that our team has been recognised for excellence in banqueting and events and I am very proud of their success which is most deserved.”

The top overall national title at the awards was won by an island resort set up more than 25 years ago to offer indoor leisure facilities for families at risk of having their holiday blighted by Scotland’s changeable weather.

Auchrannie on Arran took the honour as Hotel of the Year at the event, which also saw last year’s holder of the title, Cromlix, near Dunblane – which is owned by tennis star Andy Murray – voted Luxury Hotel of the Year.

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