Nice to see your pictures in print.

These were from images I took for the Duisdale and Toravaig Hotels on the Isle of Skye – a 4 page spread.

Nice little hotel in south Edinburgh. Shots of rooms, restaurant and front hall.

Front Hall- Ben Doran Hotel Edinburgh

Ben Doran Hotel's 'reception'

Breakfast and Dining Room

Covered a tourism conference at Edinburgh Unversity – the new John McIntyre Conference Centre at Pollock Halls – on 27  Jan. Very interesting speaker from Florida who had worked for many years at Disney and laterly in the Disney Institute before starting out on her own.

Host - Keith McDermid MD of Brilliant Red

Main conference room at the John McIntyre Centre

Main speaker -Mary Cooper LSA Partners

Following on from my entry earlier this week,  I covered the invitation evening on Thursday.

Pianist, lighting and smoke effects at the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow

Still very much a building site with all the trades  at work, hospitality ‘buyers’ were given exclusive access to this ‘old lady’ some 7 months before it is due to open. Welcomed by ‘decrepit’ waiters and a doorman, a grey haired trio and plenty of ancient cobwebs,  guests enjoyed, umm, sherry in the foyer. Then, the 100 guests were accompanied by staff from the company’s Edinburgh hotel, The George, up along long corridors past actor ‘painters’ and on to the grand old ballroom.

Within seconds of arriving a spectacular light show started and then a pianist in the centre of the floor continued the theme. Guests enjoyed champagne and canapes – all brought in specially as the hotel kitchens were unusable.

Great lighting for atmospheric images

I have a connection with this old hotel. My father Eddie Williams was the General Manager for 10 years in its heyday in the 1970′s – the days of the Malmaison and La Fourchette restaurants. So it is with some interest that after the demise of British Transport Hotels (BTH) at the end of the 80′s, and it has to be said a lack of development funding, the Central is going to be restored to most of its former glory. I too worked in the company all over the UK for 10 years.

I have a shoot tonight at the old Central Hotel in Glasgow.

Now owned by Principle Haley, who also own the George Hotel in Edinburgh, it is due for a major refurbishment to bring it back to its former glory days.

David Welch, the area Director for both hotels, has briefed me on the spooky event planned for tonight. Guests are buyers of events and large functions and the aim is to let them see the hotel before work starts. Dry ice, smoke effects, ‘decrepit waiters’ and eerie lighting are all in the mix – should make for an interesting photo challenge!!

The hotel used to be part of one of the best hotel operators of yesteryear – British Transport Hotels. More on that when I update my blog after tonight….