Press release -
Raemoir reaches four stars
A Georgian country house hotel in Aberdeenshire has landed VisitScotland’s Four Star Quality Assurance Award.
Raemoir House Hotel, the first business to upgrade its Quality Assurance rating through the Aberdeenshire Accommodation Project, received the award in recognition of its high standards.
Made up of two buildings, a Georgian mansion which became a hotel in 1943 and a second house which dates back to 1715, Raemoir offers 20 individually designed ensuite bedrooms, an elegant wood-panelled drawing room and a two rosette, Michelin recommended restaurant.
The estate, located north of Banchory, sits in 13 acres of private and secluded grounds with commanding views of Deeside and also boasts a helipad for those looking to arrive in style.
VisitScotland’s Four Star Quality Assurance Award recognises serviced accommodation businesses which excel in areas of customer care and hospitality.
The Aberdeenshire Accommodation Project was set up in collaboration between the national tourism organisation and Aberdeenshire Council and is aimed at encouraging serviced accommodation businesses to participate in quality assurance schemes.
As part of the collaboration Aberdeenshire Council is putting in place a range of initiatives to support hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast accommodation to improve and promote the quality of visitor accommodation in the area.
Neil Rae, owner of Raemoir House Hotel, said:
On behalf of the staff at Raemoir House I am delighted to accept this award from VisitScotland. Our involvement with the Aberdeenshire Accommodation Project has been of great benefit while working towards this accolade and notwithstanding the challenges of trying to provide such a quality of country house hotel within 300 year old building, we have also had to deal with the challenging economic climate that the area is currently experiencing. All the staff that we have here just now have put in a lot of effort and performed a remarkable job, I am very pleased that they have been recognized in this way.”
Jo Robinson, VisitScotland Regional Director, said:
“Congratulations to Neil and Julie on achieving their Four Star Quality Assurance award. Raemoir House Hotel is a fantastic complex - set in one of the most beautifully scenic parts of Aberdeenshire – it is a great base for those looking to enjoy attractions in the area such as the Deeside Activity Centre and the Cairngorms National Park.
“The Aberdeenshire Accommodation Project is an important initiative in helping to further improve the quality of accommodation in the region so it is very pleasing to see Raemoir the first to benefit. We look forward to welcoming many more businesses in the region into the quality assurance scheme through our partnership work with Aberdeenshire Council.
“Our Quality Assurance scheme helps businesses to reach their full potential and truly shine. The scheme is about more than just the ‘stars’ on the door - it’s about the entire visitor experience, about investing in your business and making it as economically sustainable as it can possibly be.”
Developed and improved over the past 25 years, VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance (QA) schemes are world-leading and provide a trusted, independent and impartial source of information for visitors. They allow businesses not just to meet visitor expectations, but exceed them.
QA can open the door to new customers. It is a powerful marketing tool and works well with online review sites in using an independent perspective to measure visitor experience against tried and tested criteria, so visitors know exactly what to expect.
Picture caption: (L –R) Councillor Hamish Vernal, Provost of Aberdeenshire; Jo Robinson, VisitScotland Regional Director; Neil Rae and Julie Rae, owners of Raemoir House Hotel.
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- quality assurance
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
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- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
- Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland to visit different parts of the country
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- Quality and Sustainability: we will provide support and advice to businesses, with the goal of improving the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Scotland. We will provide quality assurance to visitors through our Quality Schemes
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- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
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Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016 - 2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design begins on 1 January 2016 and ends on 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
- Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed creative industries sector.
- The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).
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