Some things get better with maturity, and Duchally Country Estate in Perthshire, Scotland, is one of them.
Duchally refurbishment
Each year the Club La Costa owned resort receives an even higher score in the VisitScotland quality assurance scheme, ensuring its five-star status in the self-catering category is secure.
Audited annually, Duchally achieved 89 per cent from the assessment carried out by the VisitScotland quality advisor in 2006, and each year this has risen by another 1 per cent to a score of 91 per cent for 2008.
The advisors report on both quality and condition in many areas of the resort, including its external appearance, interior decoration, management efficiency, facilities and cleanliness.
An overall score of 87 per cent is required to achieve five-star status. Duchally's highest individual score was in the category of cleanliness, which reached a perfect 100 per cent!
Resorts deemed five-star, the highest grade, are considered 'exceptional'. The Club La Costa resort is not sitting back, however, and has high hopes of bettering its score again next year.
Graeme McDonald, resort manager, said: "We are delighted that we get better as the resort matures, it is of first importance to Club La Costa that all its 22 fully-owned and managed resorts follow the route of excellence; it is also important for Scottish tourism in general as the grading symbol is the public's assurance of quality."
Contemporary kitchens
Recently seven of Duchally's luxurious lodges received a make-over which included new contemporary kitchens with granite work surfaces, state-of-the-art Sony Bravia TV's, as well as all new carpets, upholstery and re-decoration.
The exemplary resort also holds a silver award for its environmental practices from the Green Tourism Business Scheme.
VisitScotland, a national tourist board of Scotland initiative, works all year round to assess the standard of accommodation, visitor attractions and places to eat in Scotland for its five-star grading schemes.
For more information about Duchally Country Estate visit www.duchally.com
