HIE Standards Boost Business At The Station Hotel
22nd October 2001
A European funded initiative, aimed at helping accommodation providers upgrade their premises, is proving a real success for one Thurso business. The Station Hotel, which is owned by Pam and Stan Egan, has just attained a three star grading from Visitscotland (formerly the Scottish Tourist Board) after the couple spent £133,000 on a facelift for the hotel.
Pam and Stan applied to Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise (CASE) last year for financial assistance and were awarded a funding package worth £30,000 - half of which came from the HIE Standards programme. CASE business development managers are now encouraging more accommodation providers in the area, thinking about making improvements to their premises, to apply for assistance from the recently launched HIE Standards III initiative.
HIE Standards III continues to provide financial assistance to accommodation providers for investment in the upgrade of their premises in a bid to attract and meet the needs of today's discerning travellers. Among the improvement work undertaken at the Station Hotel was the upgrade of the hotel's 21 bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms as well as the formation of a reception area and the upgrade of the hall and landing areas. The project has resulted in the creation of a number of full-time positions at the hotel.
Management and staff at the Station Hotel are not only celebrating their three star grading from Visitscotland, they have also recently achieved a Green Tourism Bronze Award and have been awarded Investors in People status, a national programme which promotes the development of staff and skills.
Steven Kelly, manager at the Station Hotel said: "With the assistance of CASE and the HIE Standards programme we have achieved our aim of a three stars award from VisitScotland in a much shorter time than anticipated. We have also got a product to be proud of and the response in terms of repeat and future business has been outstanding. CASE have been very supportive and assisted us every step of the way."
Acting chief executive Carroll Buxton said: "One of our priorities at CASE is to improve the standard of accommodation on offer throughout the area in order to meet the high standards expected from business and leisure travellers.
"We are keen to see more accommodation providers follow the Station Hotel's example and come forward and apply for assistance via HIE Standards."
For more information on HIE Standards contact CASE on 01847 896115.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will return to Norway to host the Scottish Pavilion at Aqua Nor 2025. The Scottish aquaculture supply chain is invited to register their interest to exhibit as part of the pavilion or join the wider Scottish delegation.
A young engineer working on Britain's deepest nuclear clean-up project has been recognised by the Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). Liam Gordon (27) won the Young Chemical Engineer of the Year award at the annual showcase event of the Aberdeen branch of IChemE, the professional body for chemical engineers in the UK.
Food and Drink TechHUB will provide financial and advice support to help businesses, including social and community enterprises, with commercial growth and net zero transition activities. Small to medium sized enterprises in the Highland Council area that operate in the food and drink sector and its supply chain are expected to benefit from a new programme of support launched his week.
Businesses and social enterprises in the Highlands and Islands looking to reduce the environmental impacts of their operations can now apply to a new Green Grant Fund launched on Thursday 26 September 2024. The three-year £2.7m fund was developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
A boating club in Unst, a former kirk in Whalsay and a community hall in Fetlar are among projects supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) to generate income, provide vital services and create jobs in Shetland's outer isles. Facilities at the Unst Boating Club are being upgraded to become more energy efficient and accessible to visitors and local people.
Up to 50% match funding grants of between £25,000 and £75,000 to help companies accelerate their growth plans. Life sciences businesses in the Highlands and Islands that are looking to invest in capital growth projects will be able to apply for support through a new fund announced today (18 September).
The transformation at John O'Groats has attracted millions of pounds in investment through private, public and community-led initiatives. Monday 9 September 2024 marked the 15th anniversary of a masterplan that has helped to transform John O'Groats from ‘Carbuncle of the Year' to a thriving visitor attraction.
The chief executive of Cairngorm Mountain (Scotland) Ltd (CMSL) has announced that she is retiring later this month. Susan Smith, who has held the top job at the popular mountain resort near Aviemore for the past five years, has told staff she will leave the company at the end of September.
Caithness-based engineering firm Envision Engineering & Design Ltd is investing in new technology that will help increase business turnover and productivity while cutting carbon emissions. The company has purchased a Leica Geosystems mobile 3D scanner after securing a £6,390 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards the total cost of £21,300.
A £5.9m project to create a new whisky distillery within the former derelict Mill at Castletown in Caithness has secured a £250,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Dunnet Bay Distillers Limited (DBDL) is leading the project, which will create 13 jobs.