A business running three boutique hotels on Skye has gone into administration for a second time, although the operations are still open and are now under new management.
The hotels’ overseas owners have put Perle Hotels in place to run The Broadford, Marmalade and Bosville hotels on Skye after its management, Skye Hotels, went into administration.
Joint administrators Iain Fraser and Tom MacLennan, of FRP Advisory, said the Skye Hotels management firm, which had only been running the hotels for less than a year, was hit by “severe” cash flow problems and rapidly rising operating costs.
Mr Fraser said: “It was not sustainable for Skye Hotels to continue providing a management service and hence the only alternative for the company was administration.
“The hotel owners moved very quickly to appoint Perle Hotels, thus ensuring minimum disruption to customers, staff and suppliers.”
The properties’ original owner, MacLeod Hotels, was initially put into administration in 2013.
The family-run firm, led by Donald MacLeod and based in Portree, had added the Broadford and the Marmalade to its portfolio in 2007 backed by a £2million loan from Clydesdale Bank.
After the company ran into difficulties last year, the hotel properties were sold to an investor, while Iona and Susan Macleod formed Skye Hotels to continue managing the businesses.
Mr Fraser added: “For the avoidance of doubt, the three hotels and their owners are not in administration and remain in a strong financial position. It is only Skye Hotels that has gone into administration.”
All staff will transfer with immediate effect to the new company, he explained.
Broadford Hotel – the original home of Drambuie liqueur – is said to be one of the oldest continuously-operating inns or hotels in Scotland, reputedly dating from the mid-17th Century. It has 11 rooms a restaurant, dining room and two bars.
Marmalade is in a former laird’s house overlooking Portree.
The four-star Bosville Hotel in Portree has 19 rooms, a lounge bar and two restaurants, and a separate cottage.