Acorns 2021: Jordan Charles, 29

General manager, Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire

Nominator Bob Edwards, director, Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course

After qualifying as a lawyer, Jordan Charles followed his instincts and chose to carve out a career in hotels, where he had worked during his studies, quipping: “I thought I’d make a better hotelier than a lawyer.”

He’s definitely proved himself in the sector, working up through the ranks of Q Hotels and Redefine BDL in roles such as conference manager, F&B manager and operations manager, before taking his first general manager position at the privately owned Meldrum, aged just 27.

Under his stewardship the 51-bedroom hotel, which turns over £4m annually and has 122 employees, has won a string of awards, including the Scottish Thistle Award for Most Hospitable Hotel 2018/19.

He works constantly to move the business forward. Since 2018, he’s launched three new dining concepts, opening the 1236 restaurant to provide an alternative venue to the two-red-AA-rosette restaurant – which he also repositioned, creating the more relaxed Pineapple Grill & Seafood restaurant.

And as the pandemic took hold last year, he launched four luxury outdoor dining domes, generating £80,000 of room hire revenue alone in the first six months, while F&B was also up 25%.

He has also thrown himself into supporting the industry in the region and holds several positions, including board of directors at Visit Aberdeenshire and board member of Developing Young Workforce for Grampian.

What is the most positive people change you see for your sector post-restrictions?

“The way everyone has looked after each other and adapted to our new business mix. Our events and reception departments have now merged and I believe the business has exited lockdown stronger than when we entered, thanks to the enthusiasm of our team.”

Photography: Hospitality Media/Adrian Franklin

Back to the 2021 Acorn Award winners >>