FEATURE
joke with guests,” he quips, “that at Eriska location is very popular with some well-
Wainwright explains that he has learned ‘you’ll never be busier doing nothing’” He known faces, and a cohort of celebrity
to be “super observant” and he makes a goes on to explain that one of the charms guests have spent time at the hotel
point of training his 60-strong team to see of the hotel is to “de-stress” the guest over the years, seeking the solace and
what he has himself been trained to. “It’s from their busy lives to the “point at which relaxation which complements the beautiful
not always easy on the team,” he says, “but new experiences around the hotel become surroundings. Unable to disclose the hotel’s
they’re developing what I call a ‘constant more appealing.” famous visitors due to a signed ‘general
Drawing on his time as an AA inspector,
radar’ to assess everything, perpetually.
Treating visitors to a pleasing
managers’ code of discretion’, Wainwright
surrounding view of mountains, valleys and insists that the employment of a guest
before they start work and to reflect on marines, the island is a nature have n filled experience manager earlier this year
their day. Awareness is key.” Apart from this, with various forms of wildlife. “We humans whose sole job is to ‘show them that we
Wainwright insists that his fundamental are by far in the minority”, he says, referring know them’ sets out to make every visitor
day-to-day operational responsibilities do to the fact that the island is home to eagles, – famous or otherwise – feel at their most
not differ too much to that of any other pine martins, herons and badgers, among welcome.
hotel owner, as ultimately, success is other wildlife. “We’re all very privileged to found in ensuring the guest is happy. “The share this island with such a rich diversity with a personalised approach to each guest,
primary objective is to wow the guests of wildlife,” he adds. Owning the fiefdom, going by the motto: ‘We never ask a guest
who visit Eriska and then back track from though, means wildlife has to be taken care name and always address guests by name’.
that.” He adds, “It’s all about relationships of by its more longstanding, two-legged He and his staff always make a point to
and welcoming guests with super genuine inhabitants, leaving the responsibility of “veer away from generic small talk” with
warmth and friendliness.” preserving the island on the shoulders of every guest, whilst making it an aim to never
the Isle of Eriska team. “Our estate team tell them ‘no’. “We want our guests to feel
a two-hour drive from Glasgow, the Isle of have a long list of ongoing projects from deeply cared for in their ‘Highland Home’”,
Eriska serves as a ‘stress-free’ getaway to maintaining the woodland and shoreline to he says.
many of its guests, with leisure activities respecting wildlife activities and habitats.” sitting firmly on top of the ‘to-do’ list. “We Because of its unique offering, the
“This extends to visualising their day
Just 10 minutes away from Oban and
September 2017
Wainwright and his team manage this
With regard to the guests who tend
to visit the resort, a wide range of people
www.hotelowner.co.uk
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