Big news for the US

VIVA Carrbridge!

That's the message over there in Las Vegas this week, as the village's renowned hotel promotes itself as a humdinger of a conference and events venue.

"We're also waving the banner for the Cairngorms National Park and Scotland in general as a destination," wired Colin Watt and his team this week from the Visit Scotland stand of the great Imex America show.

"We have self-funded the travel, accommodation and our attendance here and we're loving it, mixing with the likes of The Balmoral Hotel, Macdonald's Hotel and Resorts, Gleneagles Hotel, Farmont St Andrews, Sheraton Grand Hotel Edinburgh and Borthwick Castle."

It's the perfect time to go "large" over there about the Carrbridge Hotel too, he agrees, with a major phase of investment nearing completion: "We're on target to complete the first phase of refurbishment by March, with an experienced team of professionals at the helm."

The works include extensive bathroom and bedroom remodelling, plus a major upgrade within the hotel's public areas.

A second phase, with a completion date of 2020, will create another 22 executive suites and remodel the function, conference and events bar.

"This will chime with our own 20th year here."

* See next week's Strathy for more on this story.