Perthshire hotel looks to serve up an ace with £750,000 arena
IT WAS an ambitious project both in terms of timeframe and sheer scale, but Gleneagles pulled off the transformation of their famous equestrian arena into a 2,500 square metre indoor tennis and events venue with true five-star style.
Fresh from last year’s Ryder Cup success, Gleneagles is constantly growing its reputation as a world-class sporting venue. And the new £750,000 Gleneagles Arena, which boasts four indoor tennis courts and a 2,250 capacity for events, is already proving popular with conference organisers.
“Our guests can choose from around 20 different outdoor activities, from falconry to off-road driving, to archery,” says Bernard Murphy, managing director at Gleneagles.
“Now we hope to add another string to our bow and establish Gleneagles as one of Scotland’s premier event and tennis destinations.”
“We started looking at the idea of developing the arena early last year,” explains Stuart Smith, director of leisure and events.
“We were looking to get a certain level of return on the space and we couldn’t sustain that purely through the equestrian market.
“More and more groups over the past few years have been looking for that larger space for a conference.
“We looked at different plans and ideas then went to [parent company] Diageo in the summer time and got approval in about September. We started the actual construction project in January.”
Double pair Greg Rusedski and Henri Leconte triumphed 8-7 over rivals Thomas Enqvist and Pat Cash when they took to the new indoor courts at an exhibition match in June to mark the opening of the arena.
Unsurprisingly, the match between the former tennis pros was a sell-out. “It was great fun and there were lots of jokes between the players on court,” says Smith.
Judy Murray and Leon Smith hosted the first official event at the venue in May – a tennis camp for young players and coaches.
But, as Stuart Smith explains, the courts have also proved a hit with delegates, with sports days becoming one of the upcoming trends in corporate events.
“We are starting now to push corporate sports days,” says Smith. “We have got a range of activities on site. We do an introduction to polo which is absolutely fantastic.”
After half an hour or so spent trying out their moves on a wooden horse, even delegates with no horse riding experience are up on the polo ponies.
“That’s great fun and very different,” adds Smith. “Smaller corporate groups really love it.”
Another popular activity for corporate events is shooting. Gleneagles can accommodate over 100 delegates at the range, with many conference organisers viewing shooting as a great way of breaking down barriers.
At 2,500 square metres, the
“Companies are getting more and more creative. The arena gives them ultimate flexibility Stuart Smith, Gleneagles Hotel
arena is a versatile venue where conference organisers can let their imaginations run wild.
“It’s the black box idea,” explains Smith. “Clients can create anything they like with it.
“Companies are getting more and more creative. The arena gives them ultimate flexibility.”
At the moment Smith and his team are looking at a variety of uses for the arena, with companies already planning exhibitions and public product launches.
“The level of interest that we have seen from an event perspective has increased since the Ryder Cup last year. And it’s not just about the golf, it’s a general awareness of the hotel.”