The JG Collection Team’s Unforgettable Trip to Scotland 2024

What better way than to start 2024 and our 19th year(!!) as JG Collection with the wonderful team in Scotland!

Our adventure began in Edinburgh with the much-anticipated opening of Righ Residences, a stunning collection of 24, 1 & 2-bed luxury apartments with an amazing central location on George St. Due to complete on January 15th 2024, and already seeing a great demand for bookings for the season. Thank you, Jordan Whitworth for showing the team around! Please contact us for any upcoming requests, particularly for those who enjoy spectacular Castle Views. The property will be offering some amazing offers for the opening in February/March so watch this space!

We then drove a short distance West to East Lothian and the Lutyens designed Greywalls Hotel & Chez Roux Restaurant, where GM, Simon Round, was there to greet at the roaring fireplaces, which we found difficult to extract ourselves from – at least until the Chez Roux menus were presented! An amazing way to draw day one to a close. The morning brought us all a near-healthy Scottish breakfast and to ICMI’s Operations Manager John Roberts, to reintroduce the team of this unique property located on Muirfield Golf Course, with whom we enjoy a close partnership.

Some tee times remain for 2024 for those keen to reserve (please see their brand-new website – https://greywalls.co.uk/ for further information). We were lucky to witness an Edinburgh-based business kicking off their year with a small residential gathering, which the property is ideally equipped for being located close to Edinburgh city centre and the airport. If you are looking for a venue to host a similar event, the Monday – Thursday rate for 10 people, with exclusive use of the Whiskey room (see below) and DBB all inclusive starts from £3650 (subject to availability). Contact information is available below for all enquiries.

Then Inverness, and our friend Vicky McQuillan of Rocpool Reserve Hotel called – who warned me not to be distracted by the call of House of Bruar en route! Alas, two new team members needed a glimpse and perhaps a break from JG’s road trip music mashup ( Scottish/80’s tunes carefully curated for a spectacular scenic drive, applications for copies are welcome!). Rocpool Reserve Hotel is currently under refurbishment with a new concept and look for 2024 which we’re really excited about. April 1st should be eagerly anticipated by all you Traitors – we are looking forward to sharing more news (and imagery).

Breaking our onward journey to Inverlochy was the always impressive Inch Hotel, while being part of the Cottages and Inns Division it overdelivers, exuding personality and warmth. While we were unable to see the view over Loch Ness due to timing,  GM Dhiraj Shetty demonstrated why this versatile meeting, leisure, and training stop is an increasingly popular destination for travellers who pass through the Highlands.

Our resting place that evening was none other than Inverlochy Castle, boasting its new walled Gardens rooms. Many will know my thoughts already, so it was nice to see through the new team’s eyes their reaction to this iconic Scottish Castle. We were lucky to sample Seagair (Reagan’s fantasitc Wine choice) and be with two generations of GM with Jane Watson and David Roberts, not forgetting guest appearances from Dorota and princess Nina (“Daddy has a castle!”). There’s so much I can say about Inverlochy Castle, but I’d encourage you to see for yourself how the remarkable walled garden retains the Castle’s DNA with a nod to its history, whilst appealing to tomorrow’s traveller. We adored the important touches, each named after an individual, past and present, who has made a significant contribution to the Castle, more a ‘thank-you’ I am sure. A dynamic team with incredibly talented new members delivered impeccable service after a full Christmas and challenging New Year with the wild Scottish weather.

Waking up at Inverlochy Castle was a pleasure, did I mention the sunshine falling onto the crisp, frosty grounds? This was matched only by the team’s enthusiasm to see under renovation our next stop Glenfinnan House Hotel. It lies shore, overlooking The Glenfinnen Monument, visited together with the famous nearby aqueduct by over half a million visitors a year, according to the fabulous Kate from the National Trust! John Roberts managed to help us navigate the building and let our imagination do the rest; this is truly an exceptional addition to the collection and due to open its refurbished interiors on April 1st 2024 with creative F&B and live Music – what a treat!

Just when we think we’ve seen it all, we arrive at the Isle of Eriska Hotel & Spa, and once again greeted by elegantly tartan-clad GM Massimo House. While all ICMI hotels received the off-season care and attention befitting properties of this stature, Eriska is like no other. Eriska’s Spa will undergo a major refurbishment, together with many of the rooms outside the main house. There is so much to tell you all, this is but a snippet, and between Lewis and Massimo, we hope to ensure you all on board and as excited as we are.

While I’m never at liberty to suggest we saved the best to last, given the company each one of these hotels keeps, it would be an understatement to suggest Crossbasket Castle is undergoing some changes. The purchase of Playsport, now home of Glasgow’s Gladiators, on the doorstep (or should I say a free throw?!) from Crossbasket itself, provides a new dimension to the word amenity. As for the development ‘we need to talk,’ and that we will – to as many who will listen. We were accompanied by the amazing Sarah Jane, Ryan, Loren (AKA Ms Cheese), Reagan (look out world of wine) and the entourage of incredible staff exude fine service and knowledge. The 60 new rooms in total give much scope to our MICE partners, not to mention our Leisure followers, previously with only 14 rooms (and sky-high demand), we often struggled for availability in Glasgow but will no longer.

Our experience throughout the incredible ICMI collection reaffirmed our love of a destination and a people whose ethic is so warm and genuine; it makes it more of a pleasure for us to win more ‘Hearts and Minds’ this year.

Thank you to all involved in making our visit unforgettable, we will be back.

John Green, Founder of JG Collection. 

For MICE enquiries, please contact Sally Waite ([email protected]).

For all Leisure enquiries, please contact Victoria Whatley ([email protected]).

For all Corporate partnerships, please contact John Green ([email protected]).