New igloo self-catering firm in Cairngorms is building block by block
Two entrepreneurs have launched a new holiday agency - igloo - to promote the strath and wider Cairngorms as the perfect choice for self-catering holidays.
The new business has been started by Erin McBean, of Aviemore, and Nick Lyon, from Inverness, who both share a passion for the strath and are keen to share their experience with guests and holiday home owners.
The pair have said they are keen to put the environment at the heart of their brand and have committed to planting a tree with every booking made with the new firm.
They also said the current impact of Covid-19 on holiday makers has also been a big consideration and the company has drafted fair policies on refunds in line with regulator guidelines.
Ms McBean said: “As a new business we are keen to do things differently. Starting igloo is a blank canvas and we want it to reflect our own values and lifestyle.
"From day one we have a clear commitment to our local environment. Working with Trees for Life in the Highlands we are really excited to be able to plant a tree with every booking.”
Ms McBean has built up many years of experience in the local tourism industry and her business partner has a background in design and marketing.
"We know this is a tough time for many in the tourism industry and it is a challenge to launch during a pandemic," admitted Ms McBean, "but we are confident we can use our expertise to effectively market local holiday homes and help customers and holiday home owners navigate the increasingly complicated restrictions.
"The pandemic has meant guest expectations have really changed and igloo has committed to fairness and flexibility in dealing with any changes to bookings due to Covid restrictions."
Mr Lyon said: “We have all seen the horror stories in the news about people’s holidays being cancelled and major players refusing flexibility and refunds.
"We want igloo to be different and as a small local agency we are putting fairness and flexibility front and centre when guests book.”
The company has already invested in state-of-the-art booking software, a responsive website and a system to utilise paperless contracts.
The pair said they are keen to embrace technology at every opportunity.
Mr Lyon explained: “Working with a tech start-up in Edinburgh we have invested in state of the art booking software that gives us a real advantage over our competitors and will help us stand out."
Ms McBean said: “We know there are a lot of options out there for holiday home owners but we feel our personal and local on the ground service combined with our use of technology will really set us apart."
Information for editors
Igloo Highland ltd is owned and operated by Erin McBean of Aviemore and Nick Lyon of Inverness.https://igloo.scot/about
Igloo will offer flexible bookings and fair policies including refunds for covid related restrictions, https://igloo.scot/fairness-guarantee
Igloo plants a tree for every booking made, this is done in partnership with trees4life. https://igloo.scot/environment
More high resolution photos available on request. Photos by Alison White.
