Macdonald Hotels appoints Marketing Director

September 12th, 2006

Macdonald Hotels, the UK’s largest privately owned hotel group, has appointed Ruaridh Macdonald as its new UK marketing director, to spearhead the Group’s ambitious sales and marketing strategy as it targets the premium four and five star markets.

Ruaridh will have overall responsibility for the Group’s marketing campaigns, developing the Macdonald name as a quality brand across both leisure and business tourism. The move follows the Group’s £150m investment programme, which over the last 18 months has seen the refurbishment and redevelopment of a number of its hotels, including the Macdonald Marine Hotel & Spa in North Berwick, and the creation of a brand new four-star hotel in Sheffield.

Ruaridh was appointed following a successful three years as operations director at The Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resort where he oversaw the £80 million redevelopment of the resort into a world class, year round destination. The resort has since been short-listed for three prestigious awards including the Travel Advertising Awards for its TV campaign.

Speaking about his new role within the Group, Ruaridh Macdonald said:

"Macdonald Hotels is committed to offering first-class service in luxurious facilities and my role as Marketing Director will be to support the Group by implementing an innovative marketing strategy, drawing on its established philosophy of people, standards and service."

"This is an exciting time for the Group. Following a robust programme of refurbishments, Macdonald Hotels is poised to capture the lion’s share of the premium four and five star market and my key objective will be to ensure that the brand and the brand values are known and appreciated by both leisure and business clients."

With wide-ranging marketing experience, Ruaridh started his career as a Graduate Trainee with Grampian Country Foods, before joining Highland Spring to work on its brand marketing. From there he joined SSK Conferences and Live Events before being head-hunted by Macdonald Hotels in 2003.

Back to Press Articles