Two Tourism Trophies

The Lovat, Loch Ness was blessed with 2 awards on 20th November 2009 at the Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards, held at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness.

The team took home the 'Developing People' award which demonstrates the commitment held by all working at the hotel.

Caroline Gregory was also honoured to pick up the 'Young Ambassador of the Year Award' for her contribution to hospitality.

The Red Hot Chilli Pipers rocked the evening with their entertainment

Heaven?

D&G have had the fabulous opportunity to cruise on the Hebridean Princess around the areas of Scoland that they normally only experience on dry land. This time they can marvel at Scotland's beauty from the sea.

I believe the voyage has been a little bumpy at times but check out those views! A bit of a swirl on the water is lost when you reaslise the magic surrounding you - understanding that heaven isn't a place, it's a feeling.

Mystery Resolved

Murder at the Lovat, Loch Ness - 31st October 2009.

Lady Lovat is poisoned...the dinner party try to unveil the murderer after much deliberation.

Who done it...?

Great photo on the stairs - but who is the character at the back?

Double Dose of Delight

Judges' Recognition Award, sponsored by Williamson Foodservice

This special award is reserved by the judging panel to recognise & reward excellence in any category or for one particular entry. It is not open for general entry: candidates will be selected by the judging panel from entries received across all categories.

The Lovat

The judges were very impressed by the Lovat’s entry in the Environment Award & their tremendous & genuine effort across many areas of the business to promote good environmental practice. The business has successfully developed & implemented a fully comprehensive environmental strategy that has the additional bonus of generating real efficiency savings. Well done to The Lovat for this special award.

The Lovat, Loch Ness


Young Ambassador of the Year Award, sponsored by Polaris Learning Ltd

New for 2009, this award recognises a young person’s outstanding contribution and achievement in the Highlands and Islands food and drink sector. The award will recognise and celebrate an individual’s work to develop the industry in the Highlands and Islands.

Caroline Gregory

The judging panel were very impressed by Caroline’s remarkable commitment to business, social responsibility, the environment and the local community. Her impact upon the business is extremely impressive and overall, she is a very inspirational and an outstanding role model for others.

Gary Williamson, managing director of Williamson Foodservice and title sponsor of the event, said: “Recognising excellence in the food and drink sector of the Highlands and Islands is the aim of the Awards and, as chair of this year’s judging panel, I know that this has been achieved tonight. I’d like to congratulate all Award winners tonight and, in particular, Caroline Gregory who received the inaugural Young Ambassador of the Year Award, as well as the Judges’ Recognition Award for her business, the Lovat in Fort Augustus. (Inverness-shire)

Ray of Light

Gloomy day that turned into a stunning evening -

Loving it at the Lovat!

The Lovat Discovered!

The Lovat, Loch Ness is part of the Best of British, as stated by the Observer

Visitors' Book Tribute

Look well at Telford's chain of locks; above it
Observe the place where, from a royal fort,
Vengeful invaders cowed a people, drove it
Away to westward, never to be caught.
Today, thanks to the inn which David bought
And fitted to our needs, like hand to glove, it
Renders the weary traveller sweet support,
Mends loveless lives & bids dull care to 'shove it';
Staffed by a team competitors must covet,
Haven of helpful service, rain or shine;
One sees them daily striving to improve it,
Taking their cue from mistress Caroline.
Eros has built a cot to lodge a dove at,
Let love's bright arrows link you to the Lovat.


September 2009

"How special to have a poem spontaneously written in the guest book. This means a great deal to us - that someone has taken the time to put their thoughts together with such fine eloquence. Thank you."

Hallowe'n Haunted Hotel

...welcome to The Lovat, home of the Lovat Family since 1839 & also the home of many a secret. Every year we celebrate Hallowe'n carrying on the tradition from the days when Lord & Lady Lovat ruled the manor, & this year is no different (of is it?)...

...of course no-one has ever known for sure what really occurred on that night but it’s been said that on Hallowe'n someone can be seen from the bedroom where Lady Lovat was murdered..."

Book Online

Studio Bedrooms at £75.00 per person, Dinner Bed & Breakfast
Deluxe Bedrooms at £95.00 per person, Dinner Bed & Breakfast

Making our Mark...

Sourcemap is a ground-breaking web site that provides business owners with a means to diagnose and market their supply chain and carbon footprint. It is the first of its kind, offering a free and open collection of tools to share the ethos behind sourcing and business practices. The website guides users through the process of designing an interactive supply chain map and carbon footprint calculation to be embedded on external sites and social networks. As part of our first pilot study, we are working with progressive small companies concerned with supporting their local communities and the environment. Through this study, Sourcemap is being refined for ease of use by decision makers in hospitality, food and drink, and craft industries.

The Lovat, Loch Ness is an independent eco-conscious hotel overlooking the natural beauty of Loch Ness and its surroundings. Managing Partner Caroline Gregory operates the hotel and restaurant with an underlying respect for the environment and surrounding region, as evidenced by a seasonal and locally-sourced menu, eco-conscious appliances and design, and ambitious initiatives to reduce the overall environmental impact. She is accounting for the emissions incurred by her guests' travel to the hotel in an effort to offer a carbon-neutral destination.

Caroline inspired the application of Sourcemap to travel and hospitality businesses. Her meticulous accounting for the energy use of the hotel and the carbon footprint of her guests is driven by a respect for the regional and global environment, part of an ethos she shares on her website. When presented with Sourcemap, she proposed to map her yearly guests' journeys to the hotel and include the map on her site to reassure future guests that their travel footprint was being accounted for. This is part of a pragmatic approach that makes it possible for clients to find out for themselves and learn about those aspects of the business that interest them. We look forward to adding features to this site so that she can share more of the careful decisions that make the Lovat Arms innovative and successful.

Leonardo Bonannicarolin
amerigo@media.mit.edu
PhD Candidate, MIT Media Lab
Director, Sourcemap.org

BBC report
HIE report

Baked Alaska

D&G's living quarters - Alcatraz!

D&G are in Alaska! They won't be baked that is for sure but I shall keep you updated with their shenanigans!

So far:

• travelling at sea on their cruise
• excellent meals
• G had her hair styled
• D had some acupuncture on his neck
• oh yes, they shook hands with the Captain!
• Were at Sitka, a small town almost 1,000 miles from Vancouver with a lot of Russia influence
• Saw the Salmon running up the Indian River
• Looked out for a Brown Bear which had been sighted in the Reserve
• Off to Skagway on a Train
• Having a great time and have met some interesting people
• Both having a great time
• Went on the White Pass Railway built in the late 1890 to transport supplies to the Yukon when the GOLD RUSH was on. It rises to almost 3,000 feet
• Juneau - here we visited the Mendenhall Glacier a great site
• Been on the cruise for almost a week now, on Sunday we have a full day at sea