New MD to drive Highland Coast Hotels into NC500 tenth anniversary year
Kenny McMillan, managing director and Guy Crawford, outgoing CEO, Highland Coast Hotels
Highland Coast Hotels has appointed its first managing director to drive growth for the group on the North Coast 500 (NC500), which celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2025.
Kenny McMillan joins the business with over 37 years’ experience as a tourism and hospitality industry leader and mentor, including high profile roles as managing director of Macdonald Aviemore Resorts and general manager of Macdonald Drumossie Hotel.
Kenny’s hospitality principles match those of Highland Coast Hotels. Throughout his career he has put an emphasis on building high-performing teams, which deliver exceptional guest experiences. Under his leadership, the Drumossie Hotel won Employer of the Year in the 2023 Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards and in 2024, Kenny was shortlisted for Leader of the Year in the Highland Business Awards.
In his earlier career, Kenny held several head chef roles throughout Macdonald Hotels before being appointed group executive chef for the entire group. During that time, he was named Executive Chef of the Year in the 2015 Scottish Hotel Awards.
He is also a former Ambassador for the Highland Tourism CIC, Board member for the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards, and Visit Inverness and Loch Ness.
Kenny has joined Highland Coast Hotels at an exciting time for the business. 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of the world-famous NC500, which is home to the group’s seven landmark properties, including Lochardil House in Inverness, Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch, Royal Marine Hotel in Brora, Tongue Hotel, Newton Lodge and Kylesku Hotel.
His vision is to drive sustainable tourism growth across the group by working to enhance the overall quality of the visitor experience and continuing to add value to local community life on the NC500 and Wester Ross, which is home to Highland Coast Hotels’ Plockton Inn.
Kenny, 53, was born and raised in Glasgow, but has been in Highlands for over 20 years and now lives in Inverness with his wife Shelley and family.
Commenting on his appointment as Highland Coast Hotels’ first managing director, Kenny McMillan, said: “I’m really excited to be joining a team who are so dedicated to delivering world-class guest itinerary experiences across Highland Coast Hotels’ collection of seven landmark hotels on the NC500, including Inverness as the hub of this iconic route.
“2025 is a significant milestone for this world-famous route as it marks its tenth anniversary. This occasion presents an ideal opportunity for us at Highland Coast Hotels to drive growth and help boost the local visitor economy, whilst continuing in our focus on generating a sustainable and community-led business.”
Highland Coast Hotels also owns and operates Plockton Inn, which is located in the Wester Ross village of Plockton. The village is affectionately known as ‘The Jewel of the Highlands’ and sits on a sheltered bay overlooking Loch Carron.
Kenny commented: “Highland Coast Hotels is committed to providing year-round employment opportunities and community-led hospitality in Plockton. As well as growing the local tourism economy, we hope to create lasting professional careers in hospitality that will benefit the whole community.”
“It’s a real privilege to live and work in one of the world’s most beautiful regions. The North Highlands is where I raised my own family and where I’ve built my hospitality career over the last 20 years.
“I’m passionate about showcasing the NC500 and Wester Ross using the ingredients from the North Highlands’ natural larder.
“I’m also keen to continue building the brand as a sustainable business in the Highlands for all stakeholders involved. Continuing to build our relationship with our local communities and adding value to community life is a vital part of that process.”
Highland Coast Hotels’ CEO Guy Crawford will now step back from his current accountabilities and focus as a non-executive board director in supporting Kenny and the company to deliver a sustainable business in the region. The group’s focus remains on delivery on its values of Guests, Communities, Environment and People.
Guy Crawford, outgoing CEO of Highland Coast Hotels, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Kenny as our first managing director at Highland Coast Hotels. He is a well-respected and experienced industry leader, who knows the North Highland tourism and hospitality sector and help us build on the strong growth in revenue over these last years.
“We are committed to making a positive contribution to tourism, local community life and the vitally important North Highland economy.”
Kenny McMillan, managing director and Guy Crawford, outgoing CEO, Highland Coast Hotels
Highland Coast Hotels has appointed its first managing director to drive growth for the group on the North Coast 500 (NC500), which celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2025.
Kenny McMillan joins the business with over 37 years’ experience as a tourism and hospitality industry leader and mentor, including high profile roles as managing director of Macdonald Aviemore Resorts and general manager of Macdonald Drumossie Hotel.
Kenny’s hospitality principles match those of Highland Coast Hotels. Throughout his career he has put an emphasis on building high-performing teams, which deliver exceptional guest experiences. Under his leadership, the Drumossie Hotel won Employer of the Year in the 2023 Highlands & Islands Thistle Awards and in 2024, Kenny was shortlisted for Leader of the Year in the Highland Business Awards.
In his earlier career, Kenny held several head chef roles throughout Macdonald Hotels before being appointed group executive chef for the entire group. During that time, he was named Executive Chef of the Year in the 2015 Scottish Hotel Awards.
He is also a former Ambassador for the Highland Tourism CIC, Board member for the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards, and Visit Inverness and Loch Ness.
Kenny has joined Highland Coast Hotels at an exciting time for the business. 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of the world-famous NC500, which is home to the group’s seven landmark properties, including Lochardil House in Inverness, Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch, Royal Marine Hotel in Brora, Tongue Hotel, Newton Lodge and Kylesku Hotel.
His vision is to drive sustainable tourism growth across the group by working to enhance the overall quality of the visitor experience and continuing to add value to local community life on the NC500 and Wester Ross, which is home to Highland Coast Hotels’ Plockton Inn.
Kenny, 53, was born and raised in Glasgow, but has been in Highlands for over 20 years and now lives in Inverness with his wife Shelley and family.
Commenting on his appointment as Highland Coast Hotels’ first managing director, Kenny McMillan, said: “I’m really excited to be joining a team who are so dedicated to delivering world-class guest itinerary experiences across Highland Coast Hotels’ collection of seven landmark hotels on the NC500, including Inverness as the hub of this iconic route.
“2025 is a significant milestone for this world-famous route as it marks its tenth anniversary. This occasion presents an ideal opportunity for us at Highland Coast Hotels to drive growth and help boost the local visitor economy, whilst continuing in our focus on generating a sustainable and community-led business.”
Highland Coast Hotels also owns and operates Plockton Inn, which is located in the Wester Ross village of Plockton. The village is affectionately known as ‘The Jewel of the Highlands’ and sits on a sheltered bay overlooking Loch Carron.
Kenny commented: “Highland Coast Hotels is committed to providing year-round employment opportunities and community-led hospitality in Plockton. As well as growing the local tourism economy, we hope to create lasting professional careers in hospitality that will benefit the whole community.”
“It’s a real privilege to live and work in one of the world’s most beautiful regions. The North Highlands is where I raised my own family and where I’ve built my hospitality career over the last 20 years.
“I’m passionate about showcasing the NC500 and Wester Ross using the ingredients from the North Highlands’ natural larder.
“I’m also keen to continue building the brand as a sustainable business in the Highlands for all stakeholders involved. Continuing to build our relationship with our local communities and adding value to community life is a vital part of that process.”
Highland Coast Hotels’ CEO Guy Crawford will now step back from his current accountabilities and focus as a non-executive board director in supporting Kenny and the company to deliver a sustainable business in the region. The group’s focus remains on delivery on its values of Guests, Communities, Environment and People.
Guy Crawford, outgoing CEO of Highland Coast Hotels, commented: “We’re delighted to welcome Kenny as our first managing director at Highland Coast Hotels. He is a well-respected and experienced industry leader, who knows the North Highland tourism and hospitality sector and help us build on the strong growth in revenue over these last years.
“We are committed to making a positive contribution to tourism, local community life and the vitally important North Highland economy.”