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NICK RYAN OF THE CRINAN HOTEL IN ARGYLL, SCOTLANDNAMED U.K.’s
HOTELIER OF THE YEAR
Connoisseurs
Scotland Member Wins Unanimous Approval From Judges
But actually, he believes the best
guests are pets. He charges five pounds a night and "doesn't even have to
provide a bed or change their linens." He considers dogs his best profit
center. Nick Ryan won this year’s Hotelier
of the Year Award in the UK bestowed by Caterer & Hotelkeeper, the UK’s
leading weekly publication serving the hospitality industry. An independent
panel of judges voted unanimously in favor of awarding Ryan this year’s honor. Ryan took over the management of
the tiny Crinan Hotel in 1970 and purchased the property located in the remote
coastal area of western Scotland several years later. For over 200 years, the
hotel has been the heart of the tiny community of Crinan (population 58),
welcoming Hebridean-bound yachtsmen, fishermen and far-traveled visitors alike. Ryan has built a strong and steady
clientele, using his perseverance and charm to attract a loyal following of
guests from around the world. One of the hotel’s strongest selling points is
its rooftop restaurant, Lock 16, dedicated entirely to seafood. “Fisherman come
in every day with the most fantastic produce, but if there is no fresh fish
from the daily catch due to bad weather, we don’t open,” said Ryan of his
signature restaurant. Crinan also has a ground floor
restaurant, the Westward, featuring Scottish cuisine, and a coffee shop located
alongside the Crinan Canal. The hotel and restaurants feature excellent views
encompassing Argyll’s rugged coastline and the islands off Scotland’s western
edge, Loch Fyne and the Atlantic, the Crinan Canal, Duntrune Castle and the
picturesque fishing village at Crinan. One of the secrets of Ryan’s
success rests with the fact that he has never been afraid to question the
status quo. Before Crinan, opening hotels in the winter months in Scotland was
largely unheard of. These days Crinan stays full practically year-round. Ryan is an active member of
Connoisseurs Scotland, established to market Scotland’s top hotels and travel
experiences in the United States. Fellow Connoisseurs Scotland member Ken
McCulloch, proprietor of One Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow said, “Nick injects
not just life but much-needed soul into the hotel business. I have learned so
much from him over the years.” In addition to his roles in
promoting the Crinan Hotel and Connoisseurs Scotland, Ryan has served 26 years
as station officer for HM Coastguard for Crinan. The Crinan Hotel serves as
home base for sailors and their crews during the summer months when a number of
Hebridean yachting events are held. For more information on
Connoisseurs Scotland and the Crinan Hotel, visit http://www.connoisseurs-scotland.com/ or call 1-877-9SCOTLAND in the United
States. Edited by Missy |
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TM
If you asked Nick Ryan, proprietor
of the Crinan Hotel in Argyll, Scotland and member of Connoisseurs Scotland, to
describe the perfect guest, he would say someone who is triple AAA: Affluent,
Artistic and Alcoholic. Maybe that is because his wife is a well known artist,
and he appreciates the good life and a good drink.