Smiths Win Three Awards at The Scottish Hotel Awards 2019
Posted by Administrator - April 29, 2019
Smiths Hotel Brings Home Three Highly Commended Awards for Weddings, Dining and Contemporary Bar at the Prestigious Scottish Hotel Awards
We are immensely proud to announce that our 4-Star, boutique Hotel, Smiths at Gretna Green and its fabulous team, brought home 3 new awards last night, Sunday 28th April 2019, from the Scottish Hotel Awards!
Hosted by popular Scottish presenter, Carol Smillie, at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Glasgow, hotels, guest houses, B&Bs and self-catering lodges from across Scotland came together to celebrate the best of Scottish hospitality. With awards ranging from dining, to weddings, housekeeping to cocktails, this annual ceremony saw some of the nations best-loved hotels, teams and individuals take home over prizes in over 60 categories.
What are the Scottish Hotel Awards?
A celebration of the best-of-the-best in Scottish hospitality, the Scottish Hotel Awards were developed to help tourists looking to book accommodation in Scotland, “by highlighting excellence and outstanding character in hotels, guest houses and other establishments” – Scottish Hotel Awards. Since 2003, The SHA have been researching the hospitality industry across the whole of Scotland to discover the best Romantic hotel, Best Breakfast, Wedding Venues and much more! It is the largest industry awards gather of the year in Scotland and is often referred to as the ‘Scottish Hotel Oscars’.
The 16th Annual Scottish Hotel Awards Gala Dinner
In association with Scottish hospitality based charity HIT Scotland and other major Scottish sponsors, the 16th Annual Scottish Hotel Awards Gala Dinner, was a grand affair, with the awards split in to 3 main categories:
- People of Excellence Awards & Rising Stars
- Establishment Awards
- Grand Awards
The night was presented by Carol Smillie, who shone on stage in a pearlescent purple and blue gown and featured entertainment from a live Quartet, bag pipe rockers, ‘Bags of Rock’, Blondie Tribute Act ‘Dirty Harry’ and to close the night a DJ set.
What did Smiths Hotel Win?
Earlier this year, we were proud to WIN four awards at the Scottish Hotel Awards South West Regional finals, including:
- Sales & Marketing Manager of the Year 2019
- Small Conference Hotel of the Year 2019
- Intimate Wedding Hotel of the Year 2019
- Contemporary Hotel Bar of the Year 2019
- Informal Fine Dining Restaurant Hotel of the Year 2019
At the national finals, we are excited to announce the following wins:
Sales and Marketing Manager of the Year 2019 – Michelle Hall, Smiths Hotel
(Wedding Sales Manager for Gretna Green Ltd) – Highly Commended
Informal Fine Dining Restaurant Hotel of the Year 2019 – Smiths Hotel – Highly Commended
Contemporary Hotel Bar of the Year 2019 – Smiths Hotel – Highly Commended
As a family-owned business, for over 130 years, Gretna Green Ltd prides its self on having a dedicated and inspired team of colleagues, across all of our properties and divisions. As the first jewel in our hotel crown, Smiths holds a special place in the Gretna Green family, with many of its team having worked in the hotel since it opened in 2006. These awards are testament to the talents of all the teams that work front of house, back of house, night and day, from the groundskeepers and housekeepers, to the chefs, managers, wedding planners and even the marketing team; all of whom work tirelessly and seamlessly together to ensure that Smiths customers experience the highest quality of service possible. From all of us at Team GG, we congratulate you all for your wins!
Award-winning Weddings Team
The Gretna Green Wedding Planners have been winning awards for several years and this new accolade cements the knowledge that there is no one better to trust, than Gretna Green to plan your wedding! Our Wedding Sales Manager, Michelle Hall, has worked for Gretna Green since 2006, winning many awards for her outstanding service in the wedding industry, but is always gracious in her wins, thanking her fantastic team for their hard work!
“Having worked for Gretna Green since 2006 it was a great honour to be recognised for the work that myself and the Wedding Team do. Growing with the business and the team and adapting over the last 13 years has been a pleasure. The current Wedding Team are so passionate, committed and hardworking and they strive to ensure that each couple has their dream wedding and to consistently give excellent customer service. What a fantastic night of celebration with the Gretna Green team and such a proud moment within my career as Wedding Sales Manager!” – Michelle Hall
Award-winning Hotel Restaurant and Bar
As a 2 AA Rosette restaurant, we know that our food is already superb quality, but we are exceptionally proud to win these independently judged awards, for Informal Fine Dining and Contemporary Bar. Scotland is home to a whole host of superior quality hotel restaurants and bars, across the country, so we are honoured to receive these prestigious ‘trophies’.
What’s next for Awards at Gretna Green?
Next year, for 2020, we hope to be considered for even more categories, allowing us to demonstrate the talents of our incredible teams across our businesses, including our hotels, Famous Blacksmiths Shop attraction, retail, dining, online shopping, marketing and digital teams.
However, none of our successes would be possible, without the phenomenal visitors and guests we are honoured to host each year, at Gretna Green. So, from the whole team at Gretna Green, we wish to thank, not only the Scottish Hotel Awards Judging and Researching Panel, our teams at Smiths Hotel for their award-winning service, but all of our guests and visitors too; whom we look forward to welcoming throughout the rest of 2019 and in the many more years to come!
Congratulations all, from all of us at Team Gretna Green!!!
Scottish Hotel Awards 2019 Winners List
Find out who won what at the 2019 Scottish Hotel Awards.
People of Excellence Awards
IMAGE CREDIT: TAKEN FROM SCOTLAND MAGAZINE ISSUE 104 (MAY/JUNE ISSUE 2019)
Establishment Awards
- Bar Dining Hotel of the Year
- The George Hotel
- Bar of the Year
- Dornoch Castle Hotel
- Smiths Hotel – Contemporary – Highly Commended
- Smiths Hotel – Contemporary – South West Regional Winner
- Boutique Hotel of the Year
- Nira Caledonia
- Brand Hotel of the Year
- CitizenM Hotel
- Breakfast of the Year
- Glenfinnan House Hotel
- Business Hotel of the Year
- Hilton Edinburgh Carlton
- Castle Hotel of the Year
- Inverlochy Castle Hotel
- City Hotel of the Year
- Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel
- Coast Hotel of the Year
- Bunchrew House Hotel
- Conference Hotel of the Year
- DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Westerwood Spa and Golf Resort
- Smiths Hotel – South West Regional Winner
- Country House Hotel of the Year
- Skeabost House Hotel
- Country Sports Hotel of the Year
- Hotel Eilean Iarmain
- Events Hotel of the Year
- Trump Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort
- Exclusive use Venue of the Year
- Borthwick Castle
- Family Hotel of the Year
- Crieff Hydro
- Fine Dining Hotel of the Year
- Crossbasket Castle
- Golf Hotel of the Year
- Links House at Royal Dornoch
- Hotel Lodges
- Lochside House Hotel
- Informal Dining Restaurant of the Year
- Kylesku Hotel
- Informal Fine Dining Hotel of the Year
- Toravaig House Hotel
- Smiths Hotel – Highly Commended
- Smiths Hotel – South West Regional Winner
- Inn of the Year
- The Townhead Hotel
- Island Hotel of the Year
- Duisdale House Hotel
- Lochside Hotel of the Year
- The Lake of Menteith Hotel
- Luxury Brand Hotel of the Year
- The Principal Edinburgh George Street
- Luxury Business Hotel of the Year
- Blythswood Square Hotel
- Luxury City Hotel of the Year
- Rocpool Reserve
- Luxury Country House Hotel of the Year
- Cromlix
- Most Accessible Hotel
- Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel
- Outdoor Pursuits Hotel of the Year
- Auchrannie Resort
- Pet Friendly Hotel of the Year
- Atholl Arms Hotel
- Romantic Hotel of the Year
- Ardanaiseig Hotel
- Serviced Apartments of the Year
- Destiny Scotland - Nelson Mandela Place
- Small Country Hotel of the Year
- Tongue Hotel
- Spa of the Year
- Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh
- Wedding Hotel of the Year
- Balbirnie House
- Smiths Hotel – South West Regional Winner
Grand Awards
Gold Laurels
- Fellowship for outstanding contribution to the Industry
- Gordon McIntyre
- Associate Dean of Hospitality & Tourism, City of Glasgow College
- Gordon McIntyre
- For its community and education initiatives
- Dumfries House
- In celebration of its 150th Birthday
- Crieff Hydro
- For invigorating a rural economy through innovation and hospitality excellence
- Isle of Raasay Distillery & Borodale House
Hoteliers of the Year
- General Manager – Small Hotel
- Jennifer Gracie
- Skeabost House Hotel
- Jennifer Gracie
- General Manager – Large Hotel
- Kristian Campbell
- Creiff Hydro
- Kristian Campbell
- Independent Hoteliers
- Calum & Rachel Ross
- Loch Melfort Hotel
- Calum & Rachel Ross