Blog

Glenmor ball

Administrator — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:36:28 GMT

Last month was the Glenmor Owners ball and what a lovely evening it was – with cocktails on arrival and a lovely dinner in The Ballroom, below are just a few of the comments we received back from those Owners who attended.

“We all thought it was a great event and a very successful evening. The quality of service and food offered was well up to Gleneagles standard and it was a delight to have the opportunity to enjoy the ballroom - we had often passed it by and seen it set up for a function but just assumed we would not have the opportunity to experience its full splendor! Our guests were very impressed.”

“This is the second ball we have been to and it was super. We arranged a table of 10 friends, some Glenmor owners ,some not. The champagne reception was lovely with plenty of drinks and canapé’s. The dinner and dancing were very much enjoyed by us all and not interrupted by the usual endless auctions. All in all a lovely weekend was had by us all. We will definitely be back!” Last month was the Glenmor Owners ball and what a lovely evening it was – with cocktails on arrival and a lovely dinner in The Ballroom, below are just a few of the comments we received back from those Owners who attended.

“We very much enjoyed the Glenmor Ball and must thank you all for putting on such a great event. As it wasn't our time there we took advantage of the special deals and enjoyed our stay in the hotel, which was all too short!

What we liked about the Ball was the absence of too much formality, raffles and auctions, which are so much part of any 'charity Ball' nowadays.

Overall we were delighted to be back at Gleneagles and very much enjoyed ourselves. We'll certainly be back next year and we're looking forward to coming back to Glenmor in November.”

We are very much looking forward to next year’s event and hope that many of you can join us.

Sheila Perera
Glenmor Manager

News From Glenmor

Administrator — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:35:34 GMT

Welcome to our new blog here at Glenmor. If you’ve stayed at one of our luxury holiday homes then you’ll probably know me. My name is Sheila Perera and I’ve been the manager here for over seven years looking after every aspect of our residents stay from pre-arrival until they depart. My team of concierges, housekeeping, maintenance, gardening and food and beverage, endeavour to ensure that you have the ultimate relaxing stay.

For those of you who I haven’t met or who have not been to the resort, Glenmor is a luxury holiday village, in the heart of Gleneagles with over 50 homes that can be bought or rented. As the guests return week after week, and I have the pleasure of recalling familiar faces and getting to know every one of you, as my team affects every element of your stay.

Nearly 28 years ago I began working at The Gleneagles Hotel and for 20 of them I was the executive housekeeper, before moving over to start up Glenmor in the summer of 2003. This has been a great challenge and allows me to work even closer with my guests than previously within the hotel. I’ve been involved in Glenmor from the very beginning; from the planning and the building of the homes to the organisation now of arranging your stay, so I feel as if I am part of the foundations.

Everyone who visits Glenmor doesn’t want to leave, something in the air I believe. It’s very tranquil and now at this time of year, mini daffodils are sprouting in our gardens and vibrant, white and purple heather are evident along the pathways. It truly is glorious, especially after our unprecedented harsh winter.

These spectacular grounds were the perfect location for our Easter egg hunt in early April. Children were running along the pathways with their baskets in search of clues and the elusive chocolate eggs. Everyone had a lot of fun and we all may have over indulged on some chocolate. Now we are planning further musical evenings with a touch of a quiz and the summer party nights with a BBQ.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my first blog and I will endeavour to keep you up-to-date with all goings on. ‘Til next time.

Yours,
Sheila

Get out and about…in big tree country

Administrator — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:40:34 GMT

When you visit Glenmor you obviously want to make the most of your break; make the most of the facilities at Gleneagles Hotel, enjoy the luxury of your holiday home, make the most of the sunshine by wandering around the grounds. As well as all the wonderful things we can offer you at Glenmor, we do try and encourage our visitors to get out and about and see as much of Perthshire as possible as it really is beautiful at this time of year…even if there is an occasional shower of rain!

We had a little look about to see what’s on in Perthshire this summer and were amazed at the sheer volume and variation of the offerings. Do we have any daredevils out there?! If so, you will be more than catered for at Nae Limits – with adventure tubing, family rafting, paintball and sphering (don’t worry if you don’t know what it is, we had to look it up too!) there is something to keep everyone occupied. If it is activities for the kids you are looking for then we fully recommend Record Breakers which is a children’s activity walk organised by The National Trust Scotland at Hermitage, Dunkeld. Maybe they will be able to tell you why Perthshire is called big tree country?! Any Glee fans in the house? If so, they might like this workshop that promises kids will get to work alongside vocal and dance coaches to learn a song and dance from the hit TV show and then when it has been perfected parents are invited along to watch.

If music is your thing then we recommend you check out the Rewind Festival at Scone Palace between the 29th July and 31st July where you can see 80s acts such as Tony Hadley and Rick Ashley, all the photos from last year make it look like a lot of fun! Alternatively you might want to check out the Southern Fried Festival 2011 in Perth, where you could stop and listen to Grammy nominated “Blind Boys of Alabama” or take in some delightful southern home cooking. Mmm - sounds too tempting to miss!

However, it wouldn’t be a trip to Perthshire without taking in some highland games – for atmosphere they just can’t be beaten. On the 12th and 13th of August you could attend the Aberfeldy Show and Games , where you will be entertained by pipe bands, highland dancing and a competitive tug o’ war! The games take place in a fantastic setting, right beside the historic Wade’s Bridge and the River Tay is surrounded by lovely views to Weem Rock to the north and the hills of Glen Lyon to the west - what other event can boast such a magnificent backdrop?

Plus if you aren’t too sure where you are going or don’t want to drive whilst on holiday we do have our own train station at Gleneagles and the trains that stop here do also stop at many of the places listed above – you can always ask us for more travel information.

The Dormy Transformed

Glenmor Concierge — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:53:56 GMT

We are delighted to announce that after
a £2.5million refurbishment programme
The Dormy Clubhouse opened on 22nd April.
The clubhouse has a superb changing rooms with saunas and tranquil relaxation areas.

A beautiful new dining and drinks experience, the Clubhouse Bar and Grill, features a number of different seating zones with casual and semi formal areas
for eating, drinking and swapping hard luck stories! With a very distinctive horseshoe-shaped bar it offers a comprehensive range of wines, spirits and beers, with picture windows giving stunning views of the famous King’s and Queen’s golf-courses beyond.
As well as the traditional dining arrangements
there is the option to sit at the bar adjacent
to the grill and have a casual snack in a relaxed environment.

We have had a very busy April holiday season and received some fantastic feedback from our guests regarding our April Activity Programme that has been running throughout the last few weeks. Children of all ages took part in activities ranging from a football skills workshop to stilt walking and uni-cycling for the little dare devils. There was definitely something there for everyone!

Last but not least we would like to tell you a little more about our highly anticipated Glenmor Owners Ball that takes place on the 1st of October. Come and enjoy a drinks reception, a mouth-watering 3 course meal and a live band so good you will want to dance the night away. The only way to see out the summer, we can't wait to see you all there.

Yours
Sheila

Bernard Murphy - Gleneagles' General Manager

Administrator — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:05:21 GMT

Resolute in our commitment to you

I hope that, like us, you had a wonderful
festive period and you’re managing to stick
to your new year’s resolutions! If Gleneagles
were to have a resolution of its own, it would be
to redouble our efforts to deliver the best
possible service we can to all of our guests.

It’s a commitment that had its reward last
year, when Gleneagles won a number of
prestigious awards, as voted for by both our
industry peers and the guests who stayed
with us. These included Condé Nast Traveller’s
‘Best UK Hotel for Leisure Facilities’for the third
year running, that same magazine’s
‘Best UK Hotel Spa’ and ‘Favourite UK Resort Hotel’
in The Sunday Times Travel Magazine
Reader Awards 2011.

As we continue our build-up to the Ryder Cup
in 2014, we recently received another accolade
for our golfing facilities. The PGA has chosen
Gleneagles to be the home of its new
National Academy. Building on our already
excellent teaching facilities, the new
PGA National Academy includes the very
latest coaching software. To complement the
teaching, the Wee Course has been transformed
into the PGA National Academy Course. Together,
these initiatives will, in the words of
Colin Montgomerie, become a welcome
and much-needed initiative to grow the
game in the country.

Staying with golf, I’m particularly pleased to
bring you further news of the major transformation
of the Dormy Clubhouse. Work is well underway
now to create new eating and drinking areas,
including an open fire pit in the lounge and a large
horseshoe bar. Stylish new male and female
changing rooms are also on track in development
totalling some £2.5 million. The new look Dormy
will open in April 2011.

Further investments are being made in
The Club’s changing rooms and in the laying of
a lovely new drive up to Gleneagles’ front door.
They’re all part of our ongoing commitment to create
the best possible facilities and the best possible
experience for our guests.

We know, of course, that we are incredibly
lucky here in one of the world’s most
beautiful locations. We also know that not everyone
is quite so fortunate. That’s why we give as much
as we can - in terms of both funding and
benefits in-kind - to the local community and
other worthy causes. This year, for example,
we were involved with:

CHAS (Children’s Hospice Association Scotland)
Our nominated charity for 2010, as voted for by
our employees. In 2010, we raised £34,775
for the charity through a range of
activities, including runs, cake and
coffee mornings, fashion shows
and spa treatments.

HITS (Hospitality in Tourism Scotland)
We have long been involved in this charity
that promotes learning and training
within the industry. In January 2011, our
very own Andrew Fairlie and Alan Hill, our
Food and Beverage Director, are
climbing Kilimanjaro,where they will be having
the very first Burns Supper, cooked by Andrew,
at the summit. If you’d like to donate,
please visit www.hitscotland.co.uk.

Hosting school visits
Gleneagles looks to encourage and support
children in making positive career choices.
In 2010, we hosted 22 school visits, during
which a total of 1543 school pupils
gained an understanding of what it takes to run
a resort on the scale of Gleneagles.

On behalf of all the team here,
I wish you the very best for 2011, and look
forward to welcoming you
here very soon.

Autumn cyclists and refurbishment on our Glenmor holiday homes at Gleneagles

Administrator — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 12:00:26 GMT

Cycling, cycling and more cycling has been on the agenda here at Glenmor this autumn. We have over 100 bikes sprinkled around our holiday homes - which are used by the way mostly 100% of the time - and to that affect our Glenmor resort has been turned into a ‘mini Amsterdam’.

We have three cycle routes depending on how energetic you are feeling and it has been brilliant to see everyone get their helmets on and cycle off into the dust. It has even inspired me, well, the thought of it anyway to think of using a bike myself - now that’s motivation if I do say so myself!

On the other hand we hosted the Junior Ryder Cup and it was a delight to watch these truly talented young players take to the green and play some fantastic golf. They are the golfing stars of the future and every one of them is already a professional in my mind, definitely in terms of their attitude, manner and their golfing play. Team USA won by three points, however they didn’t damp our spirits but the rain did try to no avail. Have a look at the atmosphere yourself from our Facebook photos

We can’t wait for the 2014 Ryder Cup to come to Gleneagles as it’s going to be electric!In the midst of all these activities, Greyline our interior design company has been quietly working on the refurbishments for our holiday homes. New beautiful colours and fabrics for our sofas, cushions and curtains have been decided and we can’t wait to see the end result in December – bet you can’t too! If you love music then you will love what is being introduced to all homes. We are also upgrading our sound systems to the Sonos’ multi-room music system. You will be able to have wireless music all over your home from CD players, internet radio and even your own iPod all remotely controlled.

Til’ next time,

Sheila

The beauty of Glenmor in the autumn, topped off with a Hallowe’en hunt

Glenmor Concierge — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:08:41 GMT

Autumn leaves are just
glorious, don’t you think? The rich reds, browns
and gold colours not only look fantastic but the
crisp sound of crunching leaves just make me
want to wrap up warm and walk for hours around
the grounds here at Glenmor and Gleneagles.

Or if you feel really inspired on your break you can venture to forests a little further-a-field and support one of our favourite charities who we raise funds for, the Perthshire Big Tree Country. Did you know that Perthshire is packed with high and mighty trees, including the Meikleour beech tree, which is the tallest hedge in the world? While you are there, lots of rewarding forest walks will keep you entertained as you explore some very beautiful scenery. Download the Perthshire Big Tree Country guide for yourself and spot some really unusual trees.

Don’t forget, Halloween 2010 is nearly upon us. For those who dare we have a spooky treasure hunt in store on October 31, in which you’ll have to find rhyming clues to collect witches that are hidden throughout our resort. Broomsticks at the ready….

Amidst a very enjoyable and popular October half-term, our refurbishment plan is well under way and we’re on track to having all our homes spruced up in time for Christmas. The schedule for this is being tweaked as we speak. Maintenance, as always is provided by our three, meticulous and dedicated handy-men: Eddie, Colin and Richard, who ensure that you have the most relaxing stay dealing with any issues that may arise, quickly and efficiently.

Lastly we are delighted to welcome Sherill to our team at Glenmor. Sherill will be rustling up some delights in the kitchens at The Tryst for you, so please nip in on your next stay. Remember and say hi when you come and visit and look out for our forthcoming festive picture and video competition which will be launched very soon. All you’ll have to do is upload a Christmassy picture or video of yourself to be in with a chance of winning some fantastic prizes. Watch this space!

See you on the witch-hunt!

Best,

Sheila

2010 Summer Golfing Fever Erupts at Glenmor

Glenmor Concierge — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 09:14:15 GMT

Late August and September always brings dry, glorious weather here at Glenmor; even if the summer weather has been a bit drab you can always rely on this time of year for some late sun – just a shame the little ones are back at school! I always find that I see a lot more people cycling off on their bikes around our delightful resort at this time of year too, catching the last of the sun’s rays before it sets until next year.

Golf has certainly been a highlight over the last few weeks as there has been some excellent golfing events been displayed by some of the world’s top golfers on the Gleneagles championship courses, with another round of great golfing to come in September with the Junior Ryder Cup. The European team of 3 girls and 3 boys has just been announced - these junior players are truly inspiring, make sure you try and come down and catch a glimpse at their wonderful, young skills on the green. I am always amazed by the level of passion and commitment that each young player oozes.

Last weekend was the Johnnie Walker Championship tournament, which Gleneagles hosted and had both the hotel and Glenmor bustling with energy and excitement, and we hope all who attended thoroughly enjoyed themselves as I know myself and team definitely did! The beautiful weather, great sportsmanship and atmosphere made last week a very busy week indeed.

If that’s not enough to get you excited then our elegant summer ball is fast approaching, which we have all been eagerly anticipating and we are certain that this year will be our best yet. I’m looking forward to seeing the ladies dazzle in their spectacular ball gowns and the gentleman look charming and dashing in their kilts and tuxedos!

With so much going on, we’re set for a very enjoyable month.

See you all soon.

Yours,

Sheila

Fun in the Sun this Summer at Glenmor

Administrator — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:05:36 GMT

Well, it’s been sunny since May, and now school is out we are having the odd shower but nothing to interrupt the fun at Glenmor! Children are roaming all over on their bikes and still enjoying all that the resort has to offer. We have so much on offer for your children to do whatever the weather, that they’ll be kept amused from dawn ‘til dusk.

Our Boffins Chemistry is just one of the summer children activities that we have planned to make life a little easier for you. It’s a scientific workshop that is a little different but both fun and stimulating for your little ones if they are over the age of six. Magic tricks, scientific demonstrations, physics experiments and even a rocket launch will provide wonder and astonishment for your angels or devils to ponder. Look at our photographs on Facebook

If that’s not enough then we also have summer camps and even a 2010 spy course for budding secret agents! Take a look at our summer programme here. You might have trouble deciding on what activities your children plan to do….

Now that the children are catered for, you can start thinking about your entertainment - our second Glenmor summer ball that I mentioned briefly last month. Live band, Wrapped Up have been booked to provide us with their musical talent, a three course dinner has been chosen and to top it off you’ll enjoy a drinks reception to kick-start he evening on Sept 4, 2010. Click here for more details or phone: 0800 704 705 for more information or to book your place.

Looking forward to greeting your mini ‘secret agents’ or ‘scientists-to-be’

Happy summer,

Sheila

Sun, flowers, treasure and barbecues

Administrator — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:05:26 GMT

Summer is a great thing. The sun shines, flowers get in bloom and everyone feels happy. Glenmor couldn’t look any more spectacular, what with our gardens full of summer colours, seasonal birds and lazy, long days.

Our potted plants at the entrance to the Tryst are adding a splash of colour just as you enter the Tryst café bar, which is glorious. Then you might start to smell the freshly grilled, rib-eye steak, which we have added to our menu to give you more culinary choice - the cold salmon salad is my favourite. The little ones won’t be feeling left out either as they now have their own section on our menu too, just in time for the school holidays.

The sunshine has been great so far this year and we are praying that the clouds stay away as we kick off our mini highland games and summer barbecues on June 30. It’s a family affair and we will be starting at 6pm prompt to bask in the last hours of the sunshine (hopefully). We will also be holding treasure hunts and face painting, followed by a children’s tea on a Thursday from July 1 to keep your wee ones entertained. I feel that I will be seeing a lot of painted animals over the next few months.

If you’ve been coming to Glenmor for a while then you may remember that we held a summer ball last year? Well our next one is planned for September 4 and you will be able to reserve your place soon. I missed it last year but heard lots of your stories about how good a night it was. You can be certain I will be there -make sure you are too.

Lastly, you will be pleased to hear that the repairs to our homes caused by the havoc of the unprecedented winter have all been completed. Gutters have been repaired, the roof tiles that were damaged have been replaced and the homes are in tip top condition.

Come and try our Tryst menu and join in the fun at the barbecues!

Sheila

Ducks, birds and the Junior Ryder Cup

Administrator — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:00:41 GMT

May is here and one thing I love about this month is the arrival of the ducks on the pond and the beeping sound of the Oystercatcher’s. It’s even better when you catch a view at night from the balcony of our Tryst café bar, or from the rooftops of the homes onto the pond. You really have to experience it for yourself to enjoy the moment.

It is also that time of year for the Highland Games and we are embracing the tradition and having our own mini games and celebration. We won’t be tossing the caber but we will be hurling haggis if everything goes to plan. This is just one of the planned summer activities that the full family can try at the end of the month. We have an extensive list of activities for the children too. I’ve got a feeling that your little ones will love the secret agent training. You can view the full list HERE.

Our entertainment always seems to prove to be very popular, especially our magician and our impending barbecues on the terrace. Not to mention that the Junior Ryder Cup will be taking place in September on the surrounding Gleneagles golf courses.

I always encourage everyone who comes to Glenmor to focus entirely on their holiday and let me and my team do the rest. It’s all about the customer journey. I like to ensure that the tiny details, such as delivering the morning papers and our home, fresh baked pastries each morning, straight through to organising an unique, one off bottle of 100 year old whisky are dealt with the urgency and respect. This helps us to create the relaxing atmosphere that you find here and enables our guests to forget about everything, well, just for that week or two.

One of my guests who has been coming back to Glenmor for a number of years, recently told me that; “Sheila, this is my best holiday. It’s the holiday that I look forward all year, every year.” This made me feel very satisfied as it reinforces that our efforts make you feel right at home. Thank you.

See you when you visit.

Sheila