The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa has given itself a well-deserved makeover investing £1 million in its Courtyard banqueting suite, foyer, reception area and bedrooms with support from Bank of Scotland, to ensure its five star status in the city.
Following the turnaround on the decision to sell the business and close the hotel to make way for redevelopment in March this year, the iconic North East hotel has reinvigorated the function facilities with new furnishings and décor.
This will cater for the ongoing increase in interest and support from the local and wider business community to book the venue for events as well as the 26 weddings that the Marcliffe have secured through to 2016.
Bank of Scotland has awarded the business a £2million funding package to assist with the refurbishment being made and will also support the ongoing trading of the business.
Owned by local businessman Stewart Spence, the hotel refurb ensures local jobs have been retained as well as additional staff being taken on to manage the increased level of events and conferences.
The hotel reported a strong turnover of £7.7million for the financial year ended September 2014.
Stewart Spence said: “We saw this as the right time to invest in the business, having taken the decision not to close the Marcliffe earlier this year, we wanted to give our facilities a new lease of life and solidify our proposition as a leading player in the independent hospitality sector in the North East.
“In Aberdeen the hospitality and leisure sector is extremely competitive so it is important that we are proactive in developing our business model and get the right financial support. Bank of Scotland has enabled us to continue to respond to our customer’s needs.
“We have an amazing following of loyal customers. Since the announcement to reopen as a hotel we have secured over £2 million worth of function bookings through to 2017, so we look forward to seeing faces both new and old continue to enjoy and make memories for life against our beautiful backdrop.”
Grant McBay, relationship director, SME Banking at Bank of Scotland, said “The Marcliffe is a local institution and a long standing customer of the bank so we are pleased to be supporting Stewart and his team as they enter this new era for the business.
“Aberdeen’s business and consumer tourism industry is a key contributor to the local economy and it is therefore important that independent businesses like the Marcliffe Hotel and Spa continue to respond to the market to ensure they remain a key driving force and flagship venue for the region.”