Highland Coast Hotels' chairman David Whiteford wins Entrepreneur of the Year award
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A well-known north businessman has been named as Entrepreneur of the Year in the Scottish Licensed Trade News (SLTN) 2022 Awards.
David Whiteford, chairman of Highland Coast Hotels, was presented with the award at a ceremony in the Glasgow Hilton last Thursday.
Presenter, actor and comedian Jason Manford presented the trophy, which was sponsored by Chivas Regal.
Mr Whiteford was described as an “individual who not only displays business vision but has the courage and expertise to see major projects through".
Formerly the chairman of North Highland Initiative from 2009 to 2021, Mr Whiteford moved to Highland Coast Hotels last year.
The company operates four hotels in Sutherland - the Kylesku Hotel; the Newton Lodge, Unapool; the Royal Marine in Brora, and the Royal Dornoch.
The audience at the awards ceremony were told: “With a background in farming, our winner played an early, instrumental role in promoting Scottish produce and developing quality assurance schemes before going on to spearhead the North Highland Initiative which established and developed the North Coast 500 route.
“Stepping down from the group after 12 years, he pursued an alternative route not a million miles away from his previous role, as part of a newly-formed hotels company founded with the acquisition of four well-known venues on the route.
“The company went on to add two more hotels to the portfolio earlier this year, with plans to expand the collection further still; and it completed a major £1.7 million refurbishment of its Brora hotel, with revamps of a further three of its properties planned for this winter."
