Earlier this month, the Walpole team had the privilege of reconnecting with our wider Scottish Chapter as we travelled to Edinburgh to meet with our members in Scotland for the first time since the pandemic. As someone born and raised in Scotland, I am deeply passionate about showcasing the variety of luxury experiences available throughout such a small nation.
Not only is Scotland the home of whisky, golf, and tartan, the country also boasts some of the best hospitality experiences in the world (not to mention beaches that rival the Cote D’Azur). These include Skibo Castle, The Fife Arms, the Royal Scotsman, a Belmond Train, and the Gleneagles Hotel – aka "the glorious playground". As our CEO, Helen Brocklebank, says: “Scotland is the jewel in the crown of the United Kingdom.” I couldn’t echo this sentiment more.
The trip began with an intimate Supper Club in the Annan Suite of the magnificent The Balmoral hotel against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. After sampling a selection of beautifully-crafted cocktails (kindly provided by Eight Lands), our attentions were turned towards affecting greater sector-wide recognition of Scottish luxury and the importance of capitalising on the hidden gems that the country has to offer. This dinner highlighted the close-knit, entrepreneurial culture of the industry as we uncovered existing partnerships between many of the brands in attendance.
The following morning, we drove to our newest member, Kinross House Estate, for our High-End Tourism Mini-Summit to discuss the drivers of British high-end tourism and how best to maximise that appeal.
