Gleneagles managing director Conor O’Leary named Hotelier of the Year 2023

Gleneagles managing director Conor O’Leary has been named Hotelier of the Year 2023.

He was recognised for his work repositioning the business from golf-led hotel to a “glorious playground” fit for the 21st century, as well as his development of the Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh.

O’Leary was presented with the award at a celebratory lunch held at the Lowry hotel in Manchester by Nick Appell of Casna Group, the award's sponsor, and The Caterer editor James Stagg. It is the third time the Hotelier of the Year award has gone to a manager of Gleneagles after Patrick Elsmie received it in 2004 and Peter Lederer in 1997.

Since joining the 233-bedroom, five-AA-star Gleneagles hotel in 2016 – a year after Ennismore acquired the hotel – O’Leary has overseen an ambitious multimillion-pound renovation that has seen the business repositioned to appeal to families along with its loyal golf following, and revitalised through a number of new F&B outlets.

Meanwhile, last year also saw the opening of the 33-bedroom Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh, the business’s first luxury city hotel, complete with all-day restaurant, roof terrace and members’ club.

The judging panel, made up of former Hotelier of the Year winners and industry experts, praised O’Leary’s vision and business acumen along with his natural talent for leadership and nurturing his teams.

The Vineyard managing director Andrew McKenzie said: “Conor has an unfussy style and very easy manner; he wears his role lightly, which is no easy task when you consider he runs one of the world’s iconic hotels. He is a great example to up and coming hoteliers.”

Hotel critic and travel writer Fiona Duncan added that, having stayed at Gleneagles this year, she had experienced first-hand why under O’Leary’s “benign, professional and committed leadership, the hotel provides its guests with such a superb all-round experience”.

Gordon Campbell Gray said: “Conor always exudes a sense of supreme and impressive calm. I have known Gleneagles since I was a boy, and it has always been one of the most special places in Scotland – but it has reached a new level under the professional eye of Conor.”

Some 20 former Hoteliers of the Year, including Sally Beck (2019), Jonathan Raggett (2009), Patrick Elsmie (2004), Peter Lederer (1997) and Harry Murray (1986) attended the celebratory lunch, hosted by the 2022 winner Adrian Ellis, general manager at the Lowry hotel.

To read more about why O’Leary is Hotelier of the Year 2023, see this week's edition of The Caterer.