Inverness hospitality figure lands managing director role at Aviemore Resort
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A prominent hospitality figure in Inverness has just landed himself a new role as managing director of Macdonald Aviemore Highland Resorts.
Kenny McMillan has been the general manager of the Macdonald Drumossie Hotel since 2019, and has seen the business grow from strength-to-strength alongside developing a strong core team.
Having worked his way up through the ranks, Kenny’s new appointment will see him take responsibility for a 428-room hotel, two golf courses, a retail village, leisure, conference suites, and luxury lodges.
But one thing hasn’t changed about Kenny: he is still the down-to-earth person he was when he first walked in the doors, with a passion for people and delivering a first-class experience.
Having been the general manager of the Macdonald Drumossie Hotel since 2019, Kenny has expanded its offering with a keen focus on incredible food, memorable events, top-of-the-range rooms, and a team that truly cares about their customers.
Kenny explained the journey that he has been on to get to this new role: “I began my career at the Aviemore Resort in 2004 as a sous chef, where I was trained, before going on to become the head chef at Drumossie in 2007.
“I then went to a regional level, training up the chefs at Pittodrie and Norwood Hotels, where we got our restaurants to AA rosette level, which I am really proud of!
“After this, I became the group executive chef covering our 45 hotels throughout Europe. I was able to create a program that allowed our staff from Portugal to come and work in our Scottish hotels over their low season, which provided a huge opportunity for skill sharing.
In his first role outside of the kitchen, Kenny went on to become the general manager of the Pittodrie House Hotel, where he utilised the assets of the local area, creating events that tied into the local landmark of Bennachie. He was then approached by the owner of Macdonald Resorts, who asked him to take on the role of general manager at the Drumossie Hotel in 2019.
For Kenny, creating a first-class team and a high-quality product are just some of the things he is most proud of about his time at the Drumossie.
He said: “I am all about people, and we have an incredible team here. When I came to take on the role, I had a lot of talented people I had worked with previously come back to work at the Drumossie.
“I also took on the role during Covid, which was challenging for everyone. We put a lot of work into marketing the hotel and raising standards across the business, so as we came out of lockdown and back to normality, we saw the fruits of our labour quickly.
“My time at the Drumossie has been about building the customer journey and establishing key personnel in each area. It was about ensuring the team was as sharp as they possibly could be and giving them a platform to excel.
“The team here is the legacy I am leaving, and they are absolutely incredible.”
Alongside nurturing a passionate team, Kenny also oversaw a £375,000 refurbishment at the Drumossie, and brought the food offering up to five-star standard to rival Scotland’s best.
Kenny’s new role at Aviemore Resort will see him undertake possibly the biggest hospitality role in the Highlands. But for Kenny, even though the role includes a larger remit than before, his ethos is still the same: people.
“I am looking forward to building up a great team, who are equipped and mentored to the highest level,” said Kenny.
“When you have the right people in place, the rest of the product follows.
“I also want to build a relationship with educational bodies in the area, so that anyone with an interest in hospitality or professional cooking can be nurtured, so we can grow our own.
“Hospitality is so much more than a stopgap. It’s for people who like looking after others and want to make a difference. I want to make sure that there are opportunities for those in the local area, and the wheels are already in motion for that.”
He said: “Highland Resorts is so unique, as it has its own climate with both summer and winter sports. I am loving already getting to know everyone at the resort, and I have been making it my mission to get out to every department and get to know people.
“It is such a brilliant offering, and I am excited about this opportunity."
