Clydesdale Bank funds Macleod hotel expansion

01/06/07

Clydesdale Bank, Scotland's best-performing business bank, has completed a £2 million deal with a luxury hotel chain that will create up to up to 35 jobs on the Isle of Skye.

MacLeod Hotels was established as a family business and runs Skye's first boutique-style hotel, the Bosville. The Portree-based company recently purchased the Broadford hotel, home of the world-famous Drambuie Whisky, and the Marmalade - a new hotel concept located within the 200-year old Portree House.

"MacLeod Hotels has grown rapidly in recent years.  Supporting local indigenous businesses - from nurturing and supporting their ambitions to raising finance and helping them to meet growth plans - is something that Clydesdale Bank is fully committed to, and we recognise the value that partnering businesses like MacLeod's brings to the local area," said Shaun Hendry, business partner at Clydesdale Bank's Financial Solutions Centre in Inverness.

"MacLeod's is already a major employer on Skye and, as a result of this deal hopes to employ over 120 people once the proposed development work is complete."

Donald MacLeod, Managing Director of MacLeod Hotels, added:

"Since we purchased the Broadford and Marmalade hotels, they have been immensely popular with both locals and tourists alike, and the reputations of our award-winning restaurants attract visitors from across the world."

"We are delighted with the effort Clydesdale Bank put into understanding and supporting our strategic vision for the future of the company. Its support has helped us to continue ongoing upgrades on two of our hotels and focus on new ventures such as creating a Hospitality and Catering training school that will hopefully help combat the seasonal nature of the tourist trade on Skye."