Rare five stars for Glasgow hotel

A LUXURY hotel in Glasgow has received a five-star rating from tourist agency VisitScotland.

The Blythswood Hotel, which opened just over a year ago after a 30 million transformation of the city centre's former RAC Club, has already featured in Cond Naste Traveller's Hot List for 2010.

Part of the Town House Collection of boutique hotels, which also includes the Bonham in Edinburgh, Blythswood has 100 bedrooms, including six suites, as well as a spa and a number of bars and restaurants.

VisitScotland's Quality Adviser praised the enthusiasm and friendliness demonstrated by staff and deemed it "a wonderful new flagship hotel".

The hotel, owned by Peter Taylor, joins Hotel Du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens, Radisson Blu, Mar Hall and the Glasgow Hilton as a top-rated place to stay in Scotland's biggest city.

"Achieving VisitScotland's five-star status has always been at the top of our agenda," said hotel managing director Hans Rissmann.

"To be able to do this so quickly after the building was completed is a true recognition of the quality of our product and the hard work and dedication of our team."

Mike Cantlay, the chairman of VisitScotland, said: "We are delighted to award Blythswood Square with VisitScotland's five-star grading."