
The website now runs on the new Edge web servers and care was taken to ensure that there was no interruption to Nelson's email service which is provided through their IT provider.
The Old Loans Inn, the heartbeat of the quaint village of Loans just outside Troon, has undergone a major £1.8 million redevelopment project over the last nine months and will reopen its doors to the public in July.
Despite these difficult economic times the reopening of The Old Loans Inns in the coming weeks marks a welcome jobs boost to the local area as SimpsInns are currently recruiting for an additional 40 staff - with employment opportunities across all departments - at The Old Loans Inn.
Application forms can be obtained from the SimpsInns sister property, The Gailes Hotel, Marine Drive, Irvine or by calling 01294 204040.
“As a private family business we are delighted to be in a position to bring much-needed employment to the local area,” said Irene Leslie, SimpsInns General Manager.
“In the year of the Homecoming and the 2009 British Open Championship being held on our doorstep at Turnberry in July there has been much focus on Ayrshire and investment in the tourist business such as The Old Loans Inn can only be good for the local economy.”
Renowned for its warm friendly service and excellent fare, The Old Loans Inn has kept its traditional values of a country pub, but in moving with the times, the redeveloped property introduces a brand new bar and restaurant.
In addition, The Old Loans Inn now boasts an additional accommodation element where 20 traditional, yet contemporary, bedrooms have been created and our range of uniquely-designed rooms and suites will cater for every need.
Each bedroom has been named after one of the many excellent golf courses in Ayrshire, including the world famous, Royal Troon, Turnberry, Prestwick, Dundonald and Shiskine on Arran. The main master-suite will be named after the golfer who wins this year’s Open Championship at Turnberry.
The Old Loans Inn has been successfully trading under the SimpsInns brand for over 10 years before local couple and proprietors, Malcolm and Karen Simpson, took the decision to close last October to allow redevelopment work to commence.
“The decision to close for a period was an easy one,” explained Malcolm Simpson, who also owns the Gailes Hotel near Irvine.
“After many years of lovingly renovating the original building, The Old Loans Inn required major upgrade work in order for our business to continue. It was an ideal opportunity to improve and upgrade the business by adding accommodation, while increasing the bar and restaurant capacity for our locals, visiting patrons and residents to enjoy.”
As part of the redevelopment Simpsinns purchased the adjoining cottage, such was the sensitive nature of the upgrade work. SimpsInns brought in local company RDK Construction to carry out the work and have expertly ensured the character of The Old Loans Inn was maintained.
During the redevelopment staff from The Old Loans Inn relocated to The Gailes over the winter where they received training across numerous departments before they resume work back at The Old Loans Inn.
Lorraine Inglis from Troon and Fiona McLaughlin from the village of Loans both have over 10 years experience with SimpsInns and are just two of the many original staff who will return to The Old Loans Inn.
“The building has been completely transformed,” explained Lorraine, who was particularly impressed with the residents’ rooftop garden and its stunning views over to Arran.
“The beer garden is an ideal suntrap in summer while the authentic fireplace is certainly a focal point that was painstakingly recreated out of stone from the original building.”
Scotland will continue to suffer from the impact of the global economic downturn until 2017, despite having already shown the first tentative signs of stability and improving business confidence, according to research released today by the Ernst & Young Scottish ITEM Club.
In its summer update report, the Scottish ITEM Club has predicted that the Scottish economy will contract by 3.1% in 2009, followed by a year of stagnation in 2010, and rising GDP in 2011. However, only by 2017 will employment in Scotland reach the same levels achieved in 2008.
Dougie Adams, Economic Advisor to the Ernst & Young Scottish ITEM Club, comments: “Whilst there have been some early signs that the Scottish economy is beginning to stabilise, like the rest of the UK, the patient is still a long way from recovery and there is more pain to come in the form of significant job losses.
Tourism only a small offset for the retail and hotel sectorsRising unemployment and waning levels of confidence, will see consumer expenditure curbed by 3% this year, and by nearly a further 1% in 2010, according to the report. This is having a substantial knock-on effect on retailers, hoteliers and restaurateurs, and output in the sector is expected to shrink by 5.0% this year and 0.7% next year.
Adams comments: “While the weak pound may be increasing the number of European accents in Scotland’s tourist hot spots and attracting UK visitors who would otherwise have gone abroad, the impact is negated by the generalised weakness in consumers’ expenditure.
“We are expecting Scotland’s retail-related and hotel sector to have shed in the region of 30,000 jobs, between 2008 and 2011.”
Given the importance of Golf Tourism to the economy it was interesteing to note that a golf management course delivered in the Highlands is now going to be made available to students anywhere in the world, after going online.
The BA golf management degree from the soon to be Universtiy of the Highlands and islands is unique in Scotland, begins an honours year from this September, and will also be available for full or part-time online study for the first time. Students cover the basics of golf club and resort operation and organisation, marketing, finances, tourism potential, and the maintenance of fairways and greens. North Highland College UHI at Dornoch has been home to the degree since 2001.
Through lectures, hands-on learning and home and overseas placements, the course applies current business and management techniques to the operation and management of traditional members’ clubs and international golf resorts.
Staff work closely with golf’s governing bodies, and have the backing of professional bodies within the industry and the academic establishment.
Programme leader Dr Rob Macpherson said: “In these troubled economic times, strategic planning, e-business opportunities, efficient optimisation of facility resources, the development and deployment of marketing communications, are important factors.”
The downside? Well I guess the last thing that the Dornoch economy needs now is another reason for anyone contributing to local businesses - even students! - not staying in the area. The closure of The Burghfield, The Royal Golf and even smaller operations like the Malin have impacted greatly on the visitor profile in recent years. Such a wonderful destination but typical of the pressures on such tourism villages across Scotland.
A new sixteen-room hotel opens on July 11 six miles from Turnberry, just in time to offer last-minute four-star accommodation for those attending the British Open Golf Championship July 16-19.
The Woodland Bay Hotel near Girvan has a small number of Open packages left which include accommodation for two, full Scottish breakfast, packed lunches and even transport to and from Turnberry.The stunning new hotel is a £1m plus investment by the Forbes family who own the popular Woodland Farm just south of Girvan on the A77.
Director Gillian Forbes said: “The hotel is perfect for golf fans who have left their Open accommodation to the last minute. We’ve already taken bookings from as far afield as New Zealand, Sweden and the USA but we still have a small number of Ocean View bedrooms left.”
Describing the facilities, Gillian said: “All the rooms have been decorated to a very high standard and offer six-feet king-size or twin beds, colour TVs with satellite channels, broadband access, telephones, ironing centres, hospitality trays and en suite double shower rooms with heated towel rails and hairdryers.
Superior rooms are larger and more luxurious, offering stunning ocean views and magnificent sunsets.“Mezzanine suites also offer DVD/CD players, fridges, towelling bathrobes and slippers and a fine range of luxury toiletries. All rooms are non-smoking and some rooms are able to sleep up to 3 or 4 adults.”She added: “The hotel is superbly located for golfers, with thirty-one courses within an hour’s drive. Ayrshire boasts three Open Championship courses - The Ailsa at Turnberry, Prestwick and Royal Troon.
“In addition, there are a host of quality links courses such as Kilmarnock Barassie, Glasgow Gailes, Western Gailes, The Dundonald, Irvine Bogside, West Kilbride, the Turnberry Kintyre and Prestwick St Nicholas. And in Ayr and Troon you'll find three of the best municipal courses in the country at Lochgreen, Darley and Belleisle. Girvan itself is a wee gem of a course with fantastic views.”
For more information, visit Woodlandbayhotel.com
And talking of Prestwick, The Scotsman reported that for only the second time since Young Tom Morris won three consecutive Opens between 1868 and 1870 Prestwick golf club will present the winner of the Open in St Andrews in 2010 with a replica of the prized red morocco leather belt ornamented with silver.
Sandy Lyle was the fortunate recipient of a replica belt in 1985 at Royal St George's to mark the championship's 125th anniversary.
By way of noting next summer's 150th anniversary of the oldest major, Prestwick again intend to mark the occasion by gifting the champion golfer of 2010 with a replica. The Ayrshire club's captain will make the presentation after the Royal and Ancient has handed over the Claret Jug.
Ian Bunch, secretary of Prestwick, confirmed: "We're having a replica belt made, which will be presented to the winner of the 2010 Open by our captain at the prize-giving on Sunday evening. Bunch also revealed how Prestwick intend to celebrate their special place in Open history by hosting a dinner next summer in a marquee outside their clubhouse.
Invitations are being sent to all the other clubs which have staged the championship over the past 150 years as well as the living champions.The Royal and Ancient has lent its full backing to the Prestwick function and letters of invitation from the Ayrshire club include a note of support from Peter Dawson, the chief executive.
Bunch added: "Representatives of the clubs and the past champions have all been asked to a black tie dinner on the Saturday night before the 2010 Open. We've already had quite a few positives and others have said they'll make it if their diaries allow. There seems to be a fair amount of enthusiasm for it. The course will also be available to them on Sunday."
There surely could be few more appropriate occasions for a golf party than the Open's 150th birthday. Interestingly enough Prestwick had a visit from Mark O'Meara last year," recalled Bunch. "We told him about our plans and he said: 'That's great, I'll try to bring my pal Tiger along and he'll be delighted to know you're having a belt made…'"
According to news reports all over the place at the weekend, drinks giant Coca-Cola has produced a limited-edition glass bottle depicting an image of Robert Burns to mark the Year of Homecoming.
This is the first time an individual has been immortalised on a bottle of Coke from a design designated to one nation. More than 1million of the 330ml Homecoming bottles will be stocked by all major wholesalers and a number of hotel chains in the UK, including Macdonald Hotels, Barcello, Radisson and Gleneagles in Perthshire, until the end of the year.
Speaking at Gleneagles Hotel on news of the launch, First Minister Alex Salmond said he was delighted that Coca-Cola is backing the festival. He added: “This year we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to remind our friends and family of everything that makes Scotland unique.
“This unique design for 2009 captures the spirit of that celebration and is a fantastic way of translating our heritage and identity into the language of popular culture.”
But there's the rub Alex and you're guilty of doing it again and again and again. The golf tourism industry promoted Scotland as a must play, once in a lifetime golfing destination and they played. Mostly once. By suggesting that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity is an absolutely crazy tourism strategy. Homecoming is for life not just for elections. Let's use the themes that have been tested (if not fully implemented) to build on the whole concept of coming home to Scotland - perhaps for the next decade. 2010 - 150 years since the first Open was played at Prestwick; 2014 we've got The Commonwealth Games and The Ryder Cup; for heavens sake we've even got the 225th Anniversary of the death of Robert Burns to celebrate in 2021!
Homecoming has not achieved its primary objective of bringing new tourism business to Scotland but that does not mean that the concept is wrong. On this occasion we should be building on its secondary PR successes and looking to roll out elements of Homecoming for the longer term.
Let's look at what we have to celebrate over the next ten years and plan for it to ensure that the Coca Cola bottle for 2010 with that bearded old Gentleman (Tom Morris not Santa) is out in plenty of time to promote the first Open at Prestwick!!
Now there's an idea for the people at Coke - a Scottish collection....
And just in case the title was a little obtuse here's the Burns Poem "
A Bottle And Friend
There's nane that's blest of human kind,
But the cheerful and the gay, man,
Fal, la, la, &c.
Here's a bottle and an honest friend!
What wad ye wish for mair, man?
Wha kens, before his life may end,
What his share may be o' care, man?
Then catch the moments as they fly,
And use them as ye ought, man:
Believe me, happiness is shy,
And comes not aye when sought, man.
An interesting article written by Martin Dempster in The Scotsman highlights a creative solution for golf courses struggling to give value to their membership subscriptions. It must be an idea that has considerable mileage in it if rolled out across Scotland and perhaps not just at the smaller clubs.
In fact the more you think about it the idea of reciprocal benefits across selected clubs has considerable merit - could it work if an Ayrshire club decided to partner with one in Fife, one in East Lothian and one in the Highlands. I'm pretty sure it could and add incredible loyalty and added value to all concerned. Certainly an idea worth pursuing.
This scheme sees Turnhouse in Edinburgh linking up with Helensburgh, Stranraer and Craigie Hill in Perth to give golfers an "added bonus" for deciding to be members of their respective clubs. Under the terms of the agreement, which tees off on Monday, Turnhouse members will get to play for free at the three other courses, with only minor terms and conditions in place.
"We have got to look outside the box in these difficult times for golf clubs and webelieve this arrangement is worth giving a try," said Turnhouse secretary Dougie Cleeton, "Clubs all over the country are doing an awful lot at the moment to try and entice new members but this arrangement is looking at the wider picture."
"We all have to try and retain the members we have as clubs are competing against each other and we see this as an added bonus for our members. The days of people joining a golf club for life are gone as there are not many waiting lists now," he said. "That means we've got to make it attractive as possible to be a golf club member and we believe this idea could be a winner for the clubs involved.
"Hamish Grey, CEO of the Scottish Golf Union, says the four clubs should be applauded for showing such initiative. "We welcome anything that adds to the value of being a member of a golf club and helps keep people as a member of a golf club," he said
One of those ideas that has to be commended and one which would undoubtedbly be welcomed by members across the country.
Now who do I need to speak to on our committee...
The final announcement of the closure of Hill of Tarvit has actually slipped our notice a couple of weeks ago but its impacts won't go unnoticed in the area.
Following a consultation period which concluded last week, the NTS has confirmed that Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse will close, although the gardens and grounds will remain open to the public, as will the Kingarrock hickory golf course.
NTS chief executive Kate Mavor said: "The National Trust for Scotland simply had to take decisive action to cut its costs in this difficult financial climate. We cannot afford to run properties at a deficit. Sadly, we have no option but to confirm that the Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse will be closing to the public."
North East Fife MP, Sir Menzies Campbell, said he was "profoundly disappointed" by the closure of Hill of Tarvit."The long-term future of the house must be a matter of concern with the risk that if there is no adequate security it could become the target for theft and vandalism," he said."The hickory golf course is a wonderful experience, but a reduction in visitors to the house may have an impact on visiting members of the public wanting to play golf in the traditional way."
All in all a sad position but one we fear that may be repeated across the country once this summer season is over. Is autumn going to witness a raft of cuts and closures across the tourism sector? Let's hope not.
According to the Largs and Millport Weekly a local company Nicolson Maps have mapped out the life of Robert Burns in their latest publication - the Robert Burns Tourist Map.
Founder of the company, Malcolm Nicolson said: “2009 not only marks the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns, but the 30th anniversary of Nicolson Maps, which has been based in Ayrshire since 1979.
“As an Ayrshire company, we are proud to publish our first ever Robert Burns map this year. The map follows his footsteps beyond the ‘Burns Country’ of Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway and shows the extent of his travels throughout Scotland.”
The brand new map marks over 150 sites, from where Burns lived, worked, places he visited on his tours as a bard, pubs he frequented (some still exist) and other points of interest, such as museums, monuments and statues. The sites are clearly indexed with a short explanation of their significance and a handy timeline marks some of the notable events in Burns’ life.
The Robert Burns Map, see picture, comprises three maps: Scotland giving an overview of Burns’ journeys and the distances he travelled from the Borders right up to the Moray Firth; more detailed maps of Ayrshire where Burns spent most of his life and Dumfries & Galloway, where he spent his final years. All the maps carry Nicolson’s hallmark easy-to-read mapping and clear roads as well as VisitScotland Visitor Information Centres.
The map, drawn by Nicolson’s Chief Cartographer, Val Fry, will retail at just £4.99 and comes folded in a card cover.
One of the latest updates from online booking specialists Bookassist is getting its market talking.
The Corporate System update brings a major opportunity for Bookassist users to make even more use of the online reservation system as James Kennedy from Bookassist Scotland explains.
"Corporate and booking agents want a specific and high level of service to streamline their work and each hotel or group needs to provide solutions to them, not additional problems or roadblocks. With Corporate System, agents can quickly access a customised booking area, view preferential rates and any public special rates and make use of stored details autofilled in bookings."
They can also enter specific guest details on behalf of their customer and arrange for SMS and email confirmation to that customer as well as search and manage existing and previous bookings."
The System is already generating a lot of interest with hotels seeing potential savings and market opportunities for new business. You can click the link to find out more about Bookassist Corporate System.
Mix Business & Pleasure
Weekend Worker
According to P&J in Aberdeen, A summer television campaign designed to tempt tourists to Angus is to be revealed today. The £20,000 Angus Adventure campaign is aimed at encouraging people to experience the county’s festivals, outdoors, golf and heritage.
It will be broadcast on STV to audiences in the north-east and Edinburgh from today until September. Members of the council’s in-house media crew have captured scenic footage and action shots of activities for the adverts. Angus economic development spokesman, Councillor David May, said tourism is big business for the county.
He said: “The adverts are an invitation to have an Angus adventure, whether that’s kayaking or golfing or enjoying the spectacle of Seafest or the magnificence of Glamis, or indeed all of the above.
“Their purpose is to encourage even more people to visit the county and experience its attractions and hospitality for themselves. This year more people than ever are expected to holiday at home so we’re aiming to put Angus on everyone’s list of must-see places in Scotland this summer.”