Aberdeen Hotelier becomes Master Innholder EASDALES HOTEL PLAN FOR WATT BROTHERS STORE Sandy and James Easdale, the owners of McGills Buses, have submitted plans to Glasgow City Council for the redevelopment of the Watt Brothers store which they bought following its administration in 2019. The brothers plan to turn the art-deco style building into a 125-room boutique hotel. Architect Douglas McConville of Silverfern Consultancy has drawn up plans for the 80,000 sq ft listed building, which dates back to 1914. Sandy Easdale said, “We wanted a classy design that would maximise the use of the huge site but would not compromise the unique character of the original building. “The building benefits from brilliant art deco features and this will play a part in its rejuvenation.” James Easdale added, “We are also acutely aware of the strategic shortage of hotel room supply in Glasgow and we feel this is a stepping stone on the way to restoring Glasgow to the great shopping and leisure centres like Edinburgh and other great English cities.”
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tephen Gow, General Manager of The Chester Hotel in Aberdeen has become the only Scottish hotelier to be welcomed into the Master Innholders and he is one of only four new Master Innholders in 2022. In addition to his ‘day job’, Stephen Gow is chairman of Hospitality Apprenticeship North East and chairman of the Aberdeen City and Shire Tourism Awards, as well as vice-chair of Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association, founder-director of VisitAberdeen and committee member of Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland’s Grampian council. He is currently involved in the creation of an apprenticeship for chefs to combat the current shortages of staff across the North East of Scotland. He is known for his drive for hospitality professionals to combine and share collective learnings. Stephen says, “The Master Innholders is a prestigious force within the hotel sector and
is recognised as a standard bearer for the hospitality industry. There is no doubt that the hospitality industry is a highly competitive environment, but there is also a huge degree of support between hoteliers to support each other and their local economy. I am honoured to take a role in giving back to the industry in which I’ve worked since leaving school and to play a part in encouraging the next generation of talent.” Commenting on the new Master Innholders, David Morgan-Hewitt FIH MI, chairman of the Master Innholders said: “I am immensely proud to welcome these four new members to the Master Innholders. Each has shown overwhelming passion and dedication for hospitality and are making valuable contributions not only to their own hotels, but to the industry as a whole. Congratulations to each of our new Master Innholders!”
The Inver Hotel in Caithness, part of the North Coast 500 route, if offering to help guests with rising petrol and diesel costs if they book a room on their website. They are taking 16% off the price of their usual rate “to go towards your fuel” at the time of booking if guests include their car registration plate number.
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