Name: Dr Gordon Drummond
Company: Cairngorm Lodges & Cairngorm Bothies
Job title: Director
When was your business established?
Cairngorm Lodges opened Spring 2013. Cairngorm Bothies opened in April 2020. That’s the same date the “unspeakable” occurred that went on to plague the Tourism & Hospitality industrial sectors. By the time we actually opened all of our warranties had expired! Fully operational now, however, and enjoying providing multi-award winning accommodation serving the North-east community who enjoy short breaks away with us.
What does your business do?
We provide the accommodation facilities where folks can recharge enjoying the natural capital of Royal Deeside. The physical setting of both Cairngorm Lodges and Bothies is uniquely located within a Scots Pine woodland. The accommodation units are sensitively positioned to give each guest their own space and view. The Lodges and Bothies are designed to be operated in an environmentally sensitive manner and all the activities, the products and services we use are ethically and considerately sourced.
What sort of companies do you do business with?
Our supply chain is almost all local. We use the local laundry, local suppliers for consumables, local labour from our adjacent village. We like to and want to do business, locally.
Most of our customers are individuals as opposed to companies, but interestingly a very high proportion of them come from, here in the North-east. Local is a key ingredient in our operations. It aligns with our green and sustainable values.
What is the biggest challenge facing your business at the moment?
Short breaks, holidays, time away are all considered by the customer as a luxury and perhaps as non-essential spend. In these times of a cost-of-living crisis people are very discerning in how they spend their hard-earned cash and we are competing and working hard to win that disposable income. It’s scarce.
And the biggest opportunity?
We are recognised, through the multitude of awards, as being pioneers in sustainable and regenerative tourism. We have a the first ever completely off-grid, purpose build, holiday development powered entirely by renewable energy. We are aligned with an expanding market and are leading the field. We are gaining respect and traction for our achievements. The byproduct of that will be that success will follow.
What are you most passionate and proud of when it comes to your business?
Personally, I take great satisfaction from the stream of continuous good reviews we receive on trip adviser and the like. People like what we provide and for what we stand for. It is rewarding that young people state that they choose to join us as staff because of our green credentials. We are in the business of providing people with a pleasurable experience. That makes me get up in the morning and smile.
What has been most valuable to you as members of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce?
We have gained considerable, local exposure from being “news-worthy” contributors to the morning bulletin.