Hotel doors closing until 2021 for revamp
‘Few staff’to leave at the end of July
Scotlands Spa Hotel in Pitlochry has announced it will temporarily close.
But the plan will be to open its doors again next spring having completed an extensive refurbishment project.
An announcement was made on social media on Wednesday, explaining the decision had been made to wait to see guests again until all the work was done.
“We are sad to confirm the temporary closure of Scotlands Spa Hotel, but are super excited about the future plans and look forward to having a modern hotel to re-open in the Spring of 2021,” the hotel noted.
All staff will be retained until at least July 31, however the majority of the team move to Fisher’s Hotel, a sister property in the Castles Collection hotel group.
“A few” staff will leave at the end of July.
The decision to remain closed was made considering all factors...we always did have a two year refurbishment plan Brian Wishart
Brian Wishart, general manager of the nearby Fisher’s Hotel, and acting boss for Scotlands Hotel, told the PA feedback from guests had highlighted they would prefer not to be staying in the hotel while major work was being undertaken and the decision to close was in response to this customer research.
Mr Wishart said: “We listen to our guests and the feedback during phase one of the refurbishment [last summer] was that we should have closed whilst the major works were taking place, so we will do so during phase two.”
The cancellation of this year’s Enchanted Forest has taken the puff out of Pitlochry’s autumn season, and previously Mr Wishart has commented that losing the 2020 event was a blow for the town.
Now he said: “The decision [for Scotlands to remain closed till spring 2021] was made considering all factors and yes, levels of predicted business was one of them, however we purchased the hotel in January 2019 and we always did have a two-year refurbishment plan.
“We have huge plans over the next eight months to transform Scotlands into Pitlochry’s premier modern hotel.
“Once it is safe and allowed, the work team can get to work. All of the contractors who will be working on the job are local.”
He went on to reveal the project would see the renewal of all the bedrooms that had not already been improved and that a modern 60-seat restaurant would be built.
“We will be refurbishing the entire third floor of the hotel and our two annex buildings, this will involve 23 bedrooms,” he told the PA.
Lobby space and an area that had been a bar on the lower ground floor would be redesigned to form a conference room and two new bedrooms.
The pool and spa area was refurbished in summer 2019.
Two annex buildings belonging to the hotel would become luxury family accommodation.
Those people who have existing bookings with Scotlands Hotel will now be contacted and offered either the chance to stay at Fisher’s Hotel in Pitlochry instead or to cancel their
reservation.