AI Issue 9 2017

Acquisition International - September 2017 17 Duncorann House & The Lorne Apartments offer the complete tailored accommodation package for both individuals and companies, needing long or short stay apartments. As winner of the Best for Budget Accommodation 2017 – Wick, within the 2017 Global Excellence Awards, we spoke to the company’s Donald Campbell to find out more about their impressive offerings. he accommodation offered at Duncorann House & The Lorne Apartments is to a very high standard, but at budget prices tailored to the requirements of each person or company, e.g. fully serviced all-inclusive accommodation, or whatever is required to work in with budgets. Donald Campbell starts by explaining the company’s overall mission and what differentiates them from their competitors. “The aim has always been to offer superior apartments and services at budget prices, so that people coming into the area to work have somewhere excellent to stay, without upsetting any company accountants! “Simply put, the apartments are superior to most of the budget rooms offered to workers, as they give hotel standard accommodation with first- class services and a friendly owner on hand when required. For much of the time, a large apartment can be reserved for less than the price of a room in the hotel and it is much nicer too.” On being selected in the 2017 Global Excellence Awards as the Best for Budget Accommodation 2017 – Wick, Donald is delighted and imparts his thoughts on this to us. “It’s good that Duncorann House & The Lorne Apartments can boast to offer the best budget accommodation in the Highlands, as the competition tells potential clients that the apartments are too expensive, while they are genuinely very affordable. This award will help reinforce our market position Company: Duncorann House & The Lorne Apartments Name: Donald Campbell Email: [email protected] Web Address: www.visit-wick.co.uk Address: 37-38 Bank Row, Wick Caithness, KW1 5EY UK Telephone: +44 (0)1955 603 500 A Touch of Class T 1708AI32 and will assist us in promoting to the budget market place and bring in more corporate reservations.” Donald then offers his thoughts on wider industry developments and the global corporate landscape today. “There are hotels here which can be overpriced at peak times, a random choice of B&B’s and holiday homes, so Duncorann House & The Lorne Apartments was developed to offer superb affordable accommodation all year round but particularly targeted at the corporate market. “In terms of the global corporate landscape, there has been an upsurge in corporate work that looks to continue and the apartments are perfectly placed in location and quality, to capture this.” Working within the fast-paced market, the company stays ahead of emerging developments by constantly upgrading the apartments so that they offer what the guests would wish to have in their own home. In addition, Donald underlines that all guests are treated as friends who have come to stay for a while. Donald then reveals the company’s internal culture and how they ensure that guests receive the best possible service. Donald also reveals his ambitions for the company’s future and his concluding thoughts. “As a small business, everyone supports one another and all know that exceptional customer service and friendliness are expected.” “I have built the serviced apartments up from nothing at all, a loss-making B&B, to a respected fully booked enterprise but as I am nearing retirement I would like to find someone with ambition and drive to take on the properties. “It’s been a 15-year challenge to restore the large period property and to carefully develop it into the premier business it has become. While it was hard work and the costs frequently left me in the red it has been an achievement I am very proud of and believe I have safeguarded a beautiful historical property well into the future and given the area a ‘bit of class’.” “I have built the serviced apartments up fromnothing at all, a loss-making B&B, to a respected fully booked enterprise but as I am nearing retirement I would like to find someone with ambition and drive to take on the properties.”