Macdonald Hotels appoints Simon Farr as regional director

11 August 2016 by Katherine Price

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has appointed a new regional director to oversee its portfolio in the north of Scotland, with particular responsibilities at the Aviemore Resort.

As managing director of the company's Aberdeen and Inverness region, Simon Farr will be responsible for the Norwood Hall hotel (Aberdeen), Pittodrie House (Aberdeenshire) and the Drumossie hotel (Inverness). Additionally as chief executive at the four-AA-star, which comprises four hotels, he will look after the Spey Valley Golf & Country Club, Lochanhully Woodland Club at Carrbridge and Loch Rannoch in Perthshire.

Farr has previously held senior management roles with the De Vere Group, Jarvis Hotels and AccorHotels. During a career spanning three decades, he has worked in the Regent Palace hotel in London and Wokefield Park in Berkshire, as well as operations director for Thistle Hotels in the UK and Asia.

The flagship Aviemore Resort employs 248 people, including seasonal staff, and has recently been the focus of a multi-million pound investment to mark the resort's 50 year anniversary this year. The project has included an indoor children's play centre, a clubhouse for the Spey Valley golf course and significant investment to lift the Morlich and Aviemore hotels from three to four-star status in 2015. In addition, there are now three dining destinations at the resort including the Spey Burger restaurant, the refurbished Giovanni's Italian Ristorante and the Scottish Steakhouse.

Farr said: "I am delighted to join the team during the Aviemore Resort's half centenary year and I look forward to bringing further value to the company's properties in the region as a whole. I look forward to playing a part in driving the future of this excellent portfolio of Macdonald Hotels & Resorts' properties."

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