Crerar Hotels appoints Chris Wayne-Wills as CEO

Crerar Hotels Group has appointed Chris Wayne-Wills as its new CEO.

He joins the privately-owned business from Marriott hotels in Scotland where he has worked for the past two-and-a-half years. He earlier held the position of CEO at MacDonald Aviemore resort.

Wayne-Wills replaces the group's founder Paddy Crerar, who has taken on the position of chairman.

Crerar said: "If ever I'm asked what makes a hotel good, I can make a list, ask me what makes a hotel great and that's easy - it's people. For all the millions we have committed marking out our hotels and inns as special, it is the people in them that will make the difference. Chris is a proven operator whose very notable success has come from a passion for quality that has been delivered by a people development-led approach."

Crerar hotels has committed to spending at least £10m on redeveloping seven hotel businesses, £7m of which has already been invested in its Golf View, Loch Fyne, Oban Bay and Isle of Mull hotels taking them to a four-AA-star standard.

Wayne-Wills said: "When Paddy and I started talking about the vision for Crerar Hotels it was clear we shared an identical desire. We want every guest to experience the authentic Spiorad na h Alba... the spirit of Scotland. We know Scotland is a stunning country with so much to offer, we have to and will live up to that through our hospitality.

"We are facing challenging times with the obvious threat Brexit brings and of course Covid-19 is bound to have an impact on the here and now. We are ready for both thanks to the in play Crerar strategy."

Crerar was awarded a CBE in 2018 for services to Scottish Hospitality and charity work through the Crerar Trust, which donates half the company's profits to community projects.