Macdonald unveils Aviemore redevelopment plan

Plans for a £25m redevelopment of the Aviemore resort in the Scottish Highlands were unveiled today.

The consortium carrying out the plan is led by Macdonald Hotels, which is itself putting in £900,000. Building contractor Tulloch and Bank of Scotland are the consortium's other members.

They claim the development will turn the area into a world-class tourism and business tourism destination, creating more than 200 jobs.

Macdonald Hotels will also invest a further £5m in its existing resort at nearby Dalfaber, creating a four-star, 100-bedroom hotel with an 18-hole golf course and a health and beauty spa.

New facilities at Aviemore will include a swimming pool and spa, conference, exhibition and cinema facilities and an exteded banqueting suite seating up to 1,000 people.

The 100-bedroom Aviemore Highland Hotel will be raised to four-star standard, and 50 new bedrooms added. There will also be 47 self-catering lodges.

The projects are attracting grants of £8m from local enterprise councils.