Visitors to the world-famous North Coast 500 (NC500) can now tuck themselves into the ‘best night’s sleep’ this autumn and winter thanks to a new partnership between Highland Coast Hotels and local social enterprise, Highland BlindCraft Beds, being launched today – World Tourism Day (Friday 27th September 2024).
The Scottish-based hotel group is now working with Inverness-based Highland BlindCraft to install over 220 handcrafted beds, mattresses and headboards across all its landmark venues around the north Highlands.
Founded in 1881, Highland BlindCraft is a renowned manufacturer and retailer of high-quality bed products.
All items are handmade in its factory by skilled craftspeople each living with a disability.
As a charity and successful, ethical business, Highland BlindCraft is the only organisation of its kind in the Scottish Highlands.
The firm has provided training and employment opportunities to individuals living with visual impairments and other disabilities across the Highlands for over 140 years.
Highland BlindCraft’s products are fully customisable with a choice of sizes, fabrics, fillings and firmness, all helping to create the best night’s sleep for weary travellers at six of Highland Coast Hotels’ venues around the NC500.
Deirdre Aitken, CEO of Highland BlindCraft, said:
“We’re delighted to provide Highland Coast Hotels with beds, mattresses and headboards for properties across the group – ensuring every guest has the best night’s sleep imaginable, set against a backdrop of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery.
“Hotel guests can sleep soundly knowing that every purchase has helped provide education and employment for people in the Highlands living with visual impairments and other disabilities.
“We’re committed to reinvesting our profits into providing opportunities for people in our communities that might otherwise struggle to find skilled employment and are grateful to Highland Coast Hotels for their continued support.”
Originally set up to help blind Highland residents, Highland BlindCraft is proud to open its doors to anyone willing to work. Paid jobs and training are given to people with a wide range of disabilities, not just those with visual and auditory impairments.
Guy Crawford, CEO of Highland Coast Hotels, added:
“We’re extremely proud to be supporting Highland BlindCraft as the region’s leading manufacturer of quality, handcrafted beds.
“By working with Highland BlindCraft, we’re not only offering our guests the ‘best night’s sleep imaginable’, but we’re helping to improve the quality of life for local people living with disabilities of all kinds.
“Created in April 2021, we’re aiming to bring innovative, sustainable and community-led hospitality to the stunning coastlines of the North Highlands of Scotland.
“Highland Coast Hotels intends to strengthen and enhance the hotels it owns, as well as boost regional growth.”
Since 2021, Highland Coast Hotels has acquired seven of the region’s landmark hotels, including the award-winning Kylesku Hotel; Newton Lodge; Tongue Hotel; Plockton Inn; Royal Golf Hotel Dornoch; Royal Marine Hotel Brora; and more recently Lochardil House in Inverness.
To find out more about Highland BlindCraft, visit www.highlandblindcraft.co.uk or follow on
Facebook www.facebook.com/highlandblindcraft
Instagram www.instagram.com/highlandblindcraft
Twitter https://twitter.com/hlblindcraft
For more information on Highland Coast Hotels and the North Highlands’ ‘best night’s sleep imaginable’, visit www.highlandcoasthotels.com/winter and follow on social media
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/highland-coast-hotels
Twitter https://twitter.com/highland_coast
Facebook www.facebook.com/highlandcoasthotels
Instagram: www.instagram.com/highland_coast_hotels
World Tourism Day (Friday 27th September) was established by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in 1980 to highlight the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political, and economic value.
This day is dedicated to promoting responsible and sustainable tourism, and appreciating the cultural heritage and diversity that tourism brings to the world.
The international event also encourages responsible travel practices that benefit both travellers and local communities.
For more information on World Tourism Day, go to https://www.unwto.org/world-tourism-day
