OLD COURSE HOTEL WINS THREE HIGH PROFILE AWARDS

NEWS RELEASE 

The five red star Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa in St Andrews is celebrating "the best possible start" to 2013 with three very high profile awards.

VisitScotland has acknowledged the "exceptional standards" at the Home of Golf resort with five gold stars through its national tourism Quality Assurance Scheme. 

Richard Pinn, VisitScotland Regional Director, explains: "Our gold award recognises serviced accommodation businesses across Scotland that consistently achieve the highest levels of excellence. Businesses achieving this prestigious award excel in customer care and hospitality and show real commitment to staff development and training." Richard adds: "Establishments such as the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa are the stand-out businesses when it comes to exceptional quality and service in providing accommodation for visitors. It is a real pleasure to make this announcement – and we congratulate all at the St Andrews resort."

The iconic resort has also been recognised by Conde Nast Traveler in their 'Platinum Circle', an award for destinations that have made their gold list every year for five consecutive years.

 The 144-bedroomed hotel scores highly with those voting for the award, achieving over 90% for the "killer location", "Jacques Garcia-designed rooms" and the array of activities available to guests. 

The service provided by the resort staff is complimented as "courteous, prompt and professional" and the award-winning Kohler Waters Spa, the three AA rosette Road Hole Restaurant and the world famous Road Hole Bar all receive mentions within the award summary.  

And hot on the heels of the Gold and Platinum recognition is the resort's inclusion in the exclusive Travel and Leisure's Top 500 Worldwide Resorts – the Old Course Hotel being the only destination recognised in Scotland. 

General Manager, Daniel Pereira, is "absolutely delighted" with the news, saying: "Awards are always welcome, but accolades that recognise our ongoing commitment and investment in our staff and training are especially welcome."

 Daniel adds: "Recognition from those who travel the world and stay in destinations around the globe are also very highly valued as they truly reflect the customers' views.

"When we share news of this kind, it helps to show that the resort is so much more than a hotel. It is the day-to-day enthusiasm, dedication and commitment from our entire team that results in such recognition, benefiting not just the resort but also our many local, regional and Scottish suppliers as well as the wider tourism market. It is wonderful news of which we are enormously proud - and the best possible start to 2013."

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