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UK: Stirling-born entrepreneur Steven McLeod is set to open a luxury boutique hotel in the city next year.
McLeod said development of Hotel Colessio has been more problematic than he expected but the man recently recognised by his peers as Scottish Hotelier of the Year 2012, said the project is making good progress and is on course to open in mid-2013.
McLeod is founder and chief executive of the Aurora Hotel Collection which he established in 2005. The collection includes Airth Castle, Glenbervie the Coach House, Solsgirth House, the Kenmore Hotel, Luxury Lodges on the banks of the River Tay, and the Cairn Lodge and Hotel, in Auchterarder.
Hotel Colessio is set in a Victorian building which most recently was Forth Valley Health Board’s headquarters.
“Ideally I would have wanted to open Colessio long ago, but I simply would not open the doors until I felt everything was perfect. I know the delay sparked rumours that I ran out of money, but that’s simply ridiculous. In the last 18 months I’ve opened both Solsgirth House and the Cairn Lodge. Admittedly there have been moments where I have felt like walking away from the project but I am very determined and could also see the potential for Stirling in having a five-star hotel in the city centre,” said McLeod.
www.aurorahotelcollection.co.uk
