Whisky Loch Lomond:

Embassy Hotels Collaborating

With over sixty Embassy hotels throughout Scotland (listed in section three) there are many opportunities to link with like-minded businesses to generate revenue using whisky as a ‘hook’. A recent example involving two whisky Embassies, Lodge on Loch Lomond and The Beardmore, developed into the project group Whisky Loch Lomond.

During an innovation workshop, using exercises from Scottish Enterprise’s Tourism Innovation Tool-kit, the idea of developing an exclusive whisky themed tour of the Loch Lomond area was hit-upon. The initial thought was to offer accommodation, a VIP tour of Auchentoshan distillery and a cruise on the Loch.  

However, when the group started to explore how they could bring whisky more readily into all aspects of the tour a really exciting product was developed.

This involved a ‘whisky spa’ at the Beardmore hotel, a whisky tasting on board a cruise ship on Loch Lomond and an on-board pre-recorded whisky commentary for the coach shuttling between venues.

From insights of the whisky tourism market, supplied by Auchentoshan distillery, the group realised that the key markets for their product would be Scandinavian whisky enthusiasts and the corporate market.  The group then articulated their idea as a detailed tour description.

With the assistance of the local enterprise company the group put their idea forward for a Tourism Innovation Development Award (TIDA) and in November 2005 were awarded £8000 to assist in the project’s development. The first packages are due for sale in the summer of 2006.

Patricia Ferguson Minister for Tourism presents their TIDA to Stuart Cordner of Cruise Loch Lomond and Karen Murray of Morrison Bowmore Distillers

Whisky Loch Lomond Members:

Auchentoshan distillery
Cruise Loch Lomond Ltd
Lodge on Loch Lomond
The Beardmore Conference Hotel
Prestige Tours

ScotlandWhisky is lead by Chris Conway, who is based at the Scotch Whisky Experience, Royal Mile, Edinburgh. Chris can be contacted on tel: 0131 478 7120 or by email: c.conway@whisky-heritage.co.uk