‘STARDON TO INVEST £6.5M IN REBIRTH OF SPA HOTEL’
 It's been a Stakis and a Hilton, but locally it’s always been known as the Hydro.
And from Thursday 6th October 2005 new owners Stardon UK will re-launch one of Scotland’s most famous hotels. The 206 bedroom Hilton Dunblane Hydro is to be relaunched in its own right and will trade exclusively as Dunblane Hydro. Stardon UK, who bought the hotel in April from Hilton, has decided to make a £6.5 million investment in the 206-bedroomed property, including a major investment in the bedrooms, and the restoration of the spa facilities that the iconic property was famed for from Victorian times. The hotel will also drop the Hilton brand and become an independent hotel.
Maurice Taylor, managing director of Stardon, commented: “Dunblane Hydro is one of the most recognisable hotel names in the Scotland and regardless of which hotel chain has owned it everyone refers to it simply as Dunblane Hydro. Hotel brands such as Hilton have many benefits, however Dunblane Hydro has never sat comfortably in a ‘one size fits all’ hotel brand portfolio. Our decision acknowledges the history and heritage of the hotel and by giving it back its traditional identity and a new independence, we have no doubt that it will engage directly with customers old and new and go on to surpass its previous success.”
 Robert Crook, Managing Director of Chardon Management, who manage the hotel on behalf of Stardon, said, “Dunblane Hydro is one of the best known hotels in Scotland. The new identity will be accompanied by investment of £6.5m to modernise the bedrooms and restore the spa facilities.
“As a major hotel in a leisure market with a growing demand for spa facilities, over the months ahead we will bring the hotel up to the standard that we and the owners demand and that this iconic hotel deserves. This investment will have a knock on effect on the local economy. We already have around 200 full and part time staff and this further investment has to be very good for the local area as we bring new conference and leisure business to the hotel.”
While full details of the refurbishment programme will be announced later, bedrooms are a particular priority and a very high quality of food is also standard in Taylor’s other hotels.
Maurice Taylor continued: “Dunblane Hydro is a flagship property in our hotel portfolio. Our heritage identity gives the local hotel the best of both possible worlds. As a stand-alone hotel it maintains the prestige of being a genuine one off. As part of the Stardon group of hotels, it will enjoy a level of attention to detail that will become apparent to our customers and make their stay with us all the more memorable.”
Taylor was recognised as among the best hoteliers in the world this year when his Glasgow Theatreland hotel won the coveted Intercontinental Torchbearer Award for Outstanding Achievement in Europe, Middle East and Africa. At the same ceremony he also won The Food & Beverage Excellence Award. These awards are indicative of the service levels and quality standards that will be applied to Dunblane Hydro.
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