Acorn Awards 2026: Laura Jamieson, 100 Princes Street, Red Carnation Hotels

Position General manager, 100 Princes Street, Red Carnation Hotels 

Age 29

Nominator Michael Smith, head of client and guest relations, 100 Princes Street, Red Carnation Hotels 

After being appointed as the youngest female general manager in luxury hotel collection Red Carnation Hotels, Laura Jamieson has positioned 100 Princes Street as one of Edinburgh’s leading luxury sites.

She joined Red Carnation in 2015 on the hotel group’s management programme, and progressed through a series of operational roles before leading the pre-opening of 100 Princes Street in 2024. She now oversees a team of 60 and has set the tone for the hotel’s service and performance from day one.

Under her leadership, the hotel has delivered strong early results in a competitive market, achieving high occupancy, rate growth and consistently strong guest feedback. Within its first year, it secured multiple industry awards, including a Michelin key and being awarded AA Hotel of the Year.

Leading the opening of 100 Princes Street enabled Jamieson to develop her leadership, communication and team-engagement skills. Tasked with building a new team, many of whom were new to luxury hospitality, she clearly articulated her vision, expectations and purpose, ensuring everyone understood their role in creating an exceptional hotel. 

Jamieson leads with a visible, hands-on approach, building a high-performing team from scratch and embedding a strong service culture. Her leadership style is inclusive and adaptable, creating a sense of ownership across the team and driving high levels of engagement and retention during a critical opening phase. 

She is also a strong advocate for progression of women in leadership, prioritising partnerships with suppliers and collaborators that reflect this. Through these relationships, she promotes knowledge sharing, collaboration and greater representation across the sector.