Macdonald Hotels dominates at Scottish Hotel Awards 2012

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, the UK's largest privately owned hotel group, has picked up five prestigious industry accolades at the Scottish Hotel Awards 2012.

The Scottish Hotel Awards, now in its ninth year, is designed to recognise and reward the highest standards, individually and corporately, and to celebrate the excellence and achievement of hotels in Scotland.

Macdonald Hotels was presented with the Group Breakfast of the Year Award, and the head chef from the four-star Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa, North Berwick, was honoured along with three members of the team from Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa, for their individual efforts.

Executive chef John Paul McLachlan from the four-star Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa, North Berwick, beat off stiff competition from restaurants across Scotland to be crowned Scottish Hotel Chef of the Year for his signature restaurant, John Paul at the Marine. General Manager Morag Stark from the Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa won the Hotel Manager Gold Medal, while her colleague, executive chef Ivor Clark, won the Hotel Chef Medaille a'Argent award and Gina Clark won Events Manager of the Year.

John Paul at the Marine opened in June 2011, specialising in the finest organic seasonal dishes. With two prestigious AA Rosettes, executive chef John Paul, who has worked under culinary greats such as Raymond Blanc and Gordon Ramsay, served up a host of innovative signature dishes with a modern take on traditional fare. Brasserie-style prices coupled with Scottish-influenced dishes, served against the spectacular backdrop of the Firth of Forth, raise the restaurant bar in East Lothian.

Morag, who has been with Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa in Peebles for seven years, is celebrating her second consecutive management gold medal from the awards. With almost 17 years' experience in the hotel industry, sales manager Gina Clark has built an impressive career within Macdonald Hotels, starting as a trainee receptionist and progressing from this position. She won the award for Events Manager of Year for increasing the number of weddings at the hotel in Peebles by 57 per cent year on year. Chef Ivor Clark has extensive experience from kitchens across the UK and abroad and climbed the industry ladder from commis chef to head chef at Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa in his home town.

Ruaridh Macdonald, Sales and Marketing Director at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, said: "We are all extremely proud of these achievements as they reflect the hard work and dedication from not only those individuals, but across all of our 14 hotels in Scotland."