Arran leisure resort to expand offering

Auchrannie Leisure Limited has secured investment of up to £55,055 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards total project costs of £263,000.

Offering a mix of accommodation, spa facilities and activities, Auchrannie is a very special four-star resort with a 97% customer satisfaction rating in the most recent survey, and one of Arran’s many attractions that benefits other local businesses.

With a workforce of more than 180, it is also the largest private sector employer on the island.

The resort relies mostly on visitors from Scotland’s west coast mainland but needs to diversify to include new higher spend international markets. This means making changes to the visitor offering.

The improvement project is forecast to increase business turnover by more than £200,000 and create new jobs. It involves upgrading some of the accommodation to change the space and lay-out and include higher-end furnishing such as super king-size beds.

The HIE funding will help with construction costs associated with completely refitting and re-equipping rooms to underpin a new marketing effort into international markets. The agency has supported Auchrannie Leisure with previous initiatives around skills, training, net zero, leadership and cycling facilities.

Morag Goodfellow, HIE area manager for Argyll and the Islands, said:

“Tourism is a vital industry to this part of the country and one that has great potential for further growth through innovation and adaptation. That’s exactly what Auchrannie Leisure is doing with this latest project.

“Diversifying the business to appeal to wider international markets will strengthen the company’s position as a major contributor to Arran’s local economy and as a valuable rural employer.”

Richard Small, Auchrannie Resort Director said : “We are incredibly grateful to HIE for their ongoing support of Auchrannie. Their commitment and partnership for many years has been vital in helping us grow sustainably and continue delivering exceptional experiences for our guests and community.”