Incentives
Cameron House – Taking the events high road
SIMON GEORGE FINDS NO SHORTAGE OF AMBITION AT CAMERON HOUSE ON THE BANKS OF LOCH LOMOND AS THE VENERABLE SCOTTISH ESTABLISHMENT SEEKS TO INTERNATIONALISE ITS MICE OFFERING
Sunshine through the rain Dark skies , lashing rain and howling winds courtesy of Storm Isha greeted our arrival at Cameron House , a luxurious five-star hotel dating back 200 years set in 400 acres , a short drive from Glasgow airport . By the time of departure , the storm clouds had lifted , the winds had relented , blue sky was visible and the sun had come out . The transformation in the weather provides a fitting analogy for the challenges the hotel has faced in recent years : closure from the end of 2017 to early 2021 while it underwent extensive renovation including a new event wing ; the pandemic and economic headwinds
Off-roading on the banks of Loch Lomond
– and where it finds itself now .
Much better placed structurally and strategically to specialise in the MICE sector , especially the incentives market , Cameron House offers complete buyouts and corporate offsites and teambuilding events with an extensive range of outdoor leisure activities available .
The ambition is to transition the business from a hotel to a resort , and ambition is certainly not in short supply . As Michael Lavizani , who has been resort director since Q2 2023 , explains : “ Cameron House already attracts international visitors from Europe to the Americas but now I want to propel its status to be the most internationally recognised luxury hotel in Scotland .”
Event wing a game-changer In the heart of the hotel lies the library , an ideal space for cocktail receptions or as a breakout area ; the morning room , perfect for boardroom-style meetings ; and the cinema , a plush , luxurious space which holds 29 , suitable for presentations . However , it is the new event wing built at a cost of £ 25m by
“ There are 68 new bedrooms ( a third of the hotel ’ s bedroom stock ) and last November Porsche UK took over the entire space for a corporate offsite .”
Cameron House ’ s owner , US private equity company KSL Capital Partners , and opened in November 2022 which elevates the hotel ’ s MICE offering to a whole new level , enabling it to host large events ( 300-plus ), offer complete buyouts and really target the international market . As Karen Avery , MICE sales director , comments : “ It puts us in a brand new arena ”, and Lavizani adds : “ We went from a medium-sized resort to a large resort once the extension was built .” The Loch Lomond suite is the largest meeting room in the new event wing . It has its own entrance , can hold up to 500 people theatre style and 500 for cocktail receptions , can be partitioned into three and has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the loch , which makes it ideal for large events , especially car marketing as it has a loading bay . Slightly smaller , but similar in terms of feel , i . e . natural daylight , airy , neutral décor , Loch Katrine and Loch Fyne complement the space . There are also 68 new bedrooms ( a third of the hotel ’ s bedroom stock ) above this area which means that international delegates can nip back to their room should they need to change . Highlighting its suitability to stage large events , last November Porsche UK took over the entire space for a corporate offsite .
Good booking visibility Given its size and the fact that it has only been open such a short time , the new event space brings considerable booking availability and therefore booking visibility advantages . As Avery explains : “ When somebody wants a big event for 200-300 people , as long as it is more than six months out we often have availability . Because we are the new venue on the block , we don ’ t come with a legacy of regular annual business . Which means people still have the pick of some really good dates at relatively short notice .”
Cameron House has 12 months ’
24 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 129