Creating a unique dining experience
Emma, a former regional food tourism ambassador, was passionate about showcasing Islay's natural larder. Their dining experience includes:
- pre-booked platters with local ingredients including charcuterie, smoked fish, and cheeses
- thoughtful presentation with dishes served on whisky barrel tops
- pairings with Islay malt whiskies and Scottish gins
- storytelling about the origin of each product
This approach not only delighted guests but also earned them several food awards, enhancing their reputation.
Delivering exceptional customer service
For Emma and Graeme, delivering an exceptional and immersive experience has been a key goal. They achieve this by:
- Personally greeting and interacting with guests.
- Adding thoughtful touches, like homemade breakfast muffins for guests to take away.
- Ensuring every detail contributes to guest comfort and satisfaction.
- Suggesting local itineraries so their visitors get the most of their time on Islay.
- Ensuring staff are well-briefed and equipped to deliver exceptional customer service.
Emma also takes pride in the small touches. “I bake breakfast muffins each morning and discreetly place a brown paper bag on the table for visitors to take the muffins away if they can’t manage them.”
Working with local partners?
Emma believes it important to promote the local destination too by offering recommendations and suggesting itineraries so visitors get the most of their time of Islay. This includes immersive tours and days out from distillery visits to simple days on the beach.
“It’s important to remember that, sometimes, it is the simplest days that are the most memorable for visitors.”
