NEWS Tourism body’s annual Expo delivers cash boost to north-east economy


Mount Etna is visible from the Pietradolce vineyard in Sicily.


Wine firm builds new Alliances


WHOLESALER Alliance Wine has added three far-flung island wineries to its rapidly expanding portfolio.


Mount Edward Winery on New Zealand’s South Island is joined in the Alliance stable by two Sicilian wineries, Gulfi Wines and Pietradolce’s Archineri Etna Rosso. The move comes as Beith-based Alliance, the current IWC Agent of the Year, prepares to show off its wares to the world at the London International Wine Fair next month. The company has also announced that its Australian director, Peter Leske, is going back to his winemaking roots. Leske left Adelaide Hills producer, Nepenthe, for a business-based role, but is now returning to the facility, now renamed Revenir.


Club firm signs new machine deal


NIGHTCLUB giant Luminar Leisure, whose high street club brands include Oceana, Liquid and Lava & Ignite, has agreed a new deal with Gamestec, which will see the gaming machine operator supply the entire Luminar estate. The agreement will help roll out Luminar’s ‘pub in a club’ concept by supplying a mix of digital and analogue fruit machines and digital quiz- based machines. Luminar’s Silvia Wylie said: “We have had gaming and amusement machines in our clubs for some time, but see them becoming an even more important fixture.”


8 - SLTN - April 28, 2011


Close-up time for VisitScotland


SCOTTISH tourism’s annual jamboree to market its charms on an international stage at- tracted more than 1000 travel agents and tour operators from around the world. VisitScotland Expo is said to


have boosted the north-east economy to the tune of £1.7m as hundreds of ‘buyers’, includ- ing tour operators, travel agents and the world’s travel press, de- scended on the Aberdeen Exhi- bition and Conference Centre on April 13 and 14.


Around 250 businesses from


every part of Scotland, includ- ing hotels, restaurants and leading visitor attractions, were in Aberdeen to help play their part in boosting Scotland’s im- age on an international stage. Visitors to the Granite City’s premier exhibition space were treated to the ‘monster’ sight of scale models of sculptor Andy Scott’s giant kelpies, the ‘fully- grown’ versions of which are destined for Falkirk’s ambitious Helix Project. There was even a reported sighting of Nessie, who had strayed from her habitual stomping ground further north in Loch Ness, especially for the


proved a fantastic showcase for the whole of Scotland . “Every exhibitor I spoke to


while in Aberdeen said that they made excellent contacts from both the international and UK markets. “It was also important that visitors from overseas and from all over the UK were made to feel welcome in Scotland.” Aberdeen City and Shire won


Mike Cantlay with Fiona Gray of the Old Course Hotel, whose stand won an award.


occasion. Over 500 buyers from 35 countries – including other parts of the UK – were taken on familiarisation trips around Scotland to sample the finest food and drink on offer. Visitors also took part in ac-


tivities such as mountain bik- ing, loch cruising and even land yachting.


This year, around 50 new ex- hibitors took part for the first time. Organiser VisitScotland said the average potential value to a business as a result of at- tending Expo as an exhibitor is £28,000, with some busi- nesses “quoting values as high as £100,000”. Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, said: “Expo 2011


the award for the Most Effective Stand for Doing Business, Mac- donald Hotels and Resorts took the Most Effective People award and the Old Course Hotel at St Andrews walked away with the gong for the Most Effective Stand. Blown Away Experiences, a St Andrews-based mobile outdoor-experience company which specialises in beach ac- tivities, such as land yachting, won the award for the Most Ef- fective First Time Exhibitor. According to VisitScotland, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses and supports around 10% of employment. The industry generates a re-


ported £11bn revenue annu- ally (including day visits).


A touch of West Highland luxury


AN historic country house ho- tel in the west Highlands has been treated to a £600,000 refurbishment by owners, the Blue Grange Group. Barcaldine House Hotel, situ-


ated just nine miles north of Oban in Argyll, recently un- veiled the results of the major investment, which was backed by Highlands and Islands En- terprise and the Co-operative Bank.


The investment has allowed painstaking restoration of fine period details to an elegant and classic building, which is built in the Scots Baronial style. All 11 bedrooms have been


given a complete makeover while the three main reception rooms have also been restyled, along with the hotel’s dining room.


Barcaldine House, built in 1709, was the seat of the Clan


Campbell and sits on the banks of Loch Creran.


The new kitchen is now head-


ed by ex-Michelin star chef Os- kar Kalinins, whose speciality is seafood. General manager Alastair


Stevenson said: “These are ex- citing times for Barcaldine and it’s good to be able to send out a positive message during a time when much of the trade is be- ing cautious. “We have had an encouraging positive response from guests who are all delighted with the changes”.


The four AA star hotel is marketed as a luxury country house with an informal, re- laxed atmosphere. The restaurant was awarded


two AA rosettes in 2010 and was given the Turnaround Medal 2010 by the Scottish Ho- tel Awards.


Barcaldine’s dining room was restyled in the recent refurbishment programme.


Surrounded by forest trails, secret gardens and the re- nowned 90-mile Sutherland’s Trail, together with numerous beaches, castles and islands to explore, Barcaldine offers a


host of activities, from walk- ing and climbing to boat trips around the sea loch and out to the islands, scuba diving, cycling, mountain biking and kayaking.


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