Aviemore resort takes steps to ensure Ukrainian refugees made to feel at home
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Good progress is being made in resolving complaints raised by Ukrainian refugees at their temporary hotel accommodation in Aviemore.
The Strathy reported earlier in the week that a delegation of Ukrainians had gone to Aviemore Community Council to highlight concerns over living standards at the Strathspey Hotel at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort.
Resort bosses have since met again with the refugees to discuss their concerns and said they have taken steps to make sure they are looked-after as well as possible.
Natalya Macholla, chief executive of Macdonald Aviemore Resort, said: “We are very pleased to have been given the opportunity to respond to our Ukrainian guests and have taken a series of actions to ensure that they are as comfortable and well looked-after as possible during their stays with us.
“It is a privilege to be able to welcome them to Macdonald Aviemore Resort.
"They have been through a terrible ordeal, having been displaced from their homes and country through no fault of their own and we are doing everything we possibly can to look after them.
"I am happy that the steps we have implemented over recent days will enhance their time here.
“We have had a very open and productive dialogue and have made real progress across a number of areas.
"We remain committed to working in partnership with our Ukrainian guests and look forward to positive relationships in the weeks and months ahead.”
Amongst the initiatives now implemented are:
• replacing a defective fire alarm detector to ensure a reduction in false alarms.
• Investment in a new lift at the Macdonald Strathspey Hotel which had been delayed due to a long lead time from the manufacturer.
• Review by the hotel’s wifi provider to ensure sufficient bandwidth for residents to call home.
• Introduction of regular meetings between the Ukrainian guests and the resort's executive chef to ensure that the kitchen delivers dishes that 'remind them of home' and which provide a wider choice of food specifically for children.
• Encouraging the Ukrainians to use the full range of facilities at the resort including the cinema, swimming pool and access to the resort's very popular Santa Weekends.
Abood Rejee, a member of the delegation who is staying at the Aviemore hotel, told the Strathy earlier today said: "We had a good meeting with Natalya and now look forward to improvements being made. We do not have a problem with Macdonalds, just the conditions here, so it was good to meet and discuss these with her.
"We will be meeting tonight as a group to consider the update and latest situation. We will be able to comment fully after that.
"We appreciate the interest that is being taken with our situation."
