Hotelier of the Year Sponsored by Casna Group
Hotelier of the Year
WINNER Conor O’Leary 2023
Conor O’Leary joined the 233-bedroom, five- AA-star Gleneagles hotel in 2016, having caught the eye of its new owners, Ennismore, after his focus on food and beverage at the 600-key Grand Hyatt Dubai boosted both profitability and guest satisfaction. It was a chance to put all his experience to
work on what Sharan Pasricha, co-founder and chief executive at Ennismore, described as a sleeping giant. It’s safe to say that O’Leary shocked it into life. To unlock Gleneagles’ potential, he spent a
year gaining an understanding of the hotel’s history, team and customers before launching an ambitious five-year plan, including a multi- million-pound renovation. Under O’Leary’s leadership it has undergone a dramatic repo- sitioning from a golf-led hotel to a “glorious playground” fit for the 21st century. It now attracts multi-generational guests
who come not just to golf, shoot, fish and fine dine, but to bring their families to visit the spa, indulge in activities such as falconry, riding, gundog training and – for the younger guests – tree-climbing and even ferret school. In the process the business has consolidated its posi- tion as a world-class hotel through winning countless coveted awards – including Virtuo- so’s Best Hotel 2022. Last year also saw the opening of the 33-bedroom Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh, the business’s first luxury city hotel, complete with all-day restaurant, roof terrace and members’ club. Since opening it has received rave reviews. As a forward-thinking hotelier, O’Leary also
makes sure Gleneagles gives back to the com- munity. His team engages with local tourism and community projects, including support- ing the local Community Action Plan, and works with local charities addressing men-
89 “He is a great example to
up-and-coming hoteliers” Andrew McKenzie
tal health and homelessness. Among other initiatives, the hotel works with indus- try charity HIT Scotland and offers several scholarships, including the Andrew Fairlie Scholarship for aspiring chefs. O’Leary also recently took on the role of honorary catering advisor to the Armed Forces. Given such achievements and his work in
the wider industry, it will be of no surprise to learn that O’Leary was the unanimous choice of the judges when it came to awarding this year’s Hotelier of the Year accolade. Judge Andrew McKenzie said: “Conor has an unfussy style and very easy manner; he wears his role lightly, which is no easy task when you con- sider he runs one of the world’s iconic hotels. He is a great example to up-and-coming hoteliers.” Judge Fiona Duncan told us that, hav-
ing stayed at Gleneagles this year, she had experienced first-hand why under O’Leary’s “benign, professional and committed leader- ship, the hotel provides its guests with such a superb all-round experience”. Robin Hutson marveled: “This is not a
simple property to run. The level of service and attention to detail that the team deliver under Conor’s direction is impressive for such an extensive property.” And the final word goes to Gordon Camp-
bell Gray, who told us: “Conor always exudes a sense of supreme and impressive calm. I have known Gleneagles since I was a boy, and it has always been one of the most special places in Scotland, but it has reached a new level under the professional eye of Conor.”
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