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Perle Hotels received an unexpected birthday bonus this month when being awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in only their fifth year of trading.
Only five Scottish firms received the accolade, awarded for outstanding achievement in international trade, this year, with Perle being the only Highlands-based business to be given the honour.
Beth Rehman accepts the award from Patrick Stewart MBE WS, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant.
Perle’s brand director Beth Rehman accepted a commerative glass bowl and a scroll from Argyll and Bute Lord-Lieutenant Patrick Stewart at a special ceremony in the Perle Hotel in Oban last Tuesday.
‘Personally, I am honoured to be asked to receive this award having had the enviable position of seeing each of our five hotels being renovated and the effect on the towns and communities they serve following on from that.’
The Highland chain began with two hotels on Skye in 2014, The Bosville and Marmalade, before adding Oban’s Perle in 2017 followed by the Lochardil Hotel in Inverness last year.
Earlier this month the chain acquired the Glencoe House Hotel.
Operations director Angela Finlay is congratulated by the Lord-Lieutenant.
Perle has seen a rise of 172 per cent in international tourism throughout its venues over the past three years and boasts a diversified workforce, 60 per cent of whom are women.
‘As each of our hotels was renovated, we sought to expand our target market beyond our shores,’ added Mrs Rehman. ‘This enabled us to reach a new set of guests and contribute to the expansion of international tourism.
‘Through the hard work of every member of the Perle team, we have been able to create a special offering that would draw the international market to these incredible Scottish locations.’
While Perle has been making inroads in the international trade, it is also continuing its commitment to local through the provenance of its food. Some 70 per cent of the Perle menus in Skye are sourced from within 25-30 miles of the hotels.
‘It’s a strange paradox, but we have managed to win an award for international trade through a clear focus on local experience,’ said Mrs Rehman.
‘I would like to thank all the staff, suppliers and our friends in the community who help make Perle Hotels a special place to stay, and Mr Stewart for presenting us with this exceptional honour from Her Majesty the Queen.’
