Positive results for Crerar Hotels as losses reduce and revenue grows

Crerar Hotels has reported an £8.9m increase in turnover (up from £5.49m to £14.46m) for its accounts to the year to 26 March 2022.

The company also reported a pre-tax loss of £831K, however Crerar Hotel’s CEO Chris WayeWills, described this as a “significant improvement” on last year’s reported loss of £2m and is confident the company is on an upward trajectory.

Crerar Hotels revealed it has boosted staff numbers by more than 40 and increased wages resulting in a total £1.6 million increase in remuneration across the group.

The trading period included the results of the “stop-start” Covid restrictions however the hotel group invested close to £2 million in the Isle of Mull Hotel and Spa and close to £500,000 in the Glencoe Inn which became the first property in the portfolio to achieve an AA five-star rating.

Chris Wayne-Wills, CEO of Crerar Hotels, (pictured left)_ said, “We are proud to reflect on a good year where we have demonstrated our commitment to strengthening our proposition by investing heavily in our high-quality portfolio. The benefits of our investment strategy are clearly on track”.

“The hangover of the impact of Covid-19 continued to affect the industry’s ability to trade as normal, however, we have still emerged in a considerably stronger position than the previous year while committing some £4.72m to capital expenditure and £1.6m to remuneration to expand our teams.

“Our unwavering commitment to investment in our portfolio and our talent has put us in the best possible position for continued success and recovery.”

In addition to achieving a five-star rating at the Glencoe Inn, the ongoing commitment to renovation and standards also paved the way for other coveted accolades at the World Travel Awards and Prestige Travel Awards for the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa.

The group’s investment strategy has continued into the current financial year, with extensive upgrades in spa facilities at Golf View Hotel & Spa and Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa, as well as a substantial renovation of the Balmoral Arms, formerly known as the Deeside Inn. Chris Wayne-Wills added that the current financial year would continue to bring its own new set of challenges.

He said, “We have witnessed the pandemic ravaging many hospitality businesses and the covid impact hangover remains in some sectors. At Crerar Hotels we have continued to focus on our investment in our people and our hotels. We retain our excellent future potential, our dynamism, vibrancy and innovation to deliver sustained recovery and to support wider economic objectives such as vital jobs, growth and investment in the heart of our economy and communities.”