A FORMER acting chief executive of the owners of stv has launched a hotel management company.
Donald Emslie – who was acting chief executive of the then SMC plc – is a co-founder of Castle Hotel Management Company (CHMC), that aims to operate existing hotels on behalf of their current owners and to launch new hotels for developers.
His partner is Peter Murphy, who was most recently managing director (Scotland and NE England) for Macdonald Hotels.
The company’s first management contract is for the four-star Roxburghe Hotel and Golf Course near Kelso.
CHMC will run operations at the luxury country house hotel, its leisure facilities and championship golf course on behalf of its owner, the Duke of Roxburghe.
Donald Emslie is executive chair of CHMC.
At SMG (Scottish Media Group), he rose to become chief executive of SMG TV until July three years ago, whereupon he became acting chief executive of the whole of SMG on the departure of Andrew Flanagan.
He stayed in that role until the following April, leaving in the immediate wake of the present regime – including chief executive, Rob Woodward – taking over.
In a media release, Emslie is quoted, saying: “CHMC combines talented industry leaders with an excellent operational track record to deliver the best returns for hotel owners.”
