Our Directors Forum met last week for an event on the theme of ‘branding and customer service’ at Another Place, the Lake.
Directors Forum, sponsored by Muckle LLP, met for an event last week on the theme of ‘branding and customer service’ at lifestyle hotel on Ullswater, Another Place, the Lake.
The event was the Forum’s second of the year and part of a series of six events for 2024 which cover a range of business topics including sustainability, robotics, the economy and AI and automation.
Another Place, The Lake, which sits on the northern shore of Ullswater, is part of a group of hotels ‘with a relaxed active and social ethos.’ Guests can take part in activities including kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, archery and open water swimming, led by their partners Ullswater Paddleboarding and coldwater swimming expert, Colin Hill.
The event started with a tour led by Senior House Manager, Ste Wagner, which took in the Sheep Shed and lake, the Glasshouse (which serves pizza and cocktails made using ingredients from the adjacent kitchen garden), the restaurant and Swim Club, their take on a spa, and some of the accommodation including the cottages, shepherd huts, and treehouse.
The tour finished in the restaurant where guests heard a presentation from Hotels Director David Vaughan and Group Head of Events and Programming Laura Smith, which gave a fascinating insight into the business’s approach to customer service, branding and marketing with a heavy focus on social media and driving organic engagement through sharing online content.
The presentation also looked at the group’s plans for expansion with the purchase of The Machrie luxury golf hotel on Islay, Scotland, and the work underway to align this hotel’s offering to the others in the group. A Q&A session followed with lively discussions around the hotel group’s business model, target clientele, social media strategy, challenges and future plans.
With the presentation finished, the guests continued discussions over a delicious three course meal.
Tony McPhillips, Partner at Muckle LLP said:
‘’Muckle were delighted to sponsor the event. It was great to visit such a successful Cumbrian business showcasing excellent customer service. Client service is at the heart of everything we do and sharing thoughts and experiences is what makes Director’s Forum events so worthwhile and enjoyable.’’
Joe Sanders, Marketing Manager at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce said:
“I’d like to thank David, Laura and Ste for giving our Directors Forum members a behind-the-scenes look into their innovative work at Another Place. We had a lot of great feedback with members saying how much they enjoyed the tour, presentation and the food, which was excellent! Thanks also to our Directors Forum sponsor, Muckle LLP for their ongoing support.
The Directors Forum is the Chamber’s networking group for business leaders and is open to senior leaders at our member businesses. If you’d like more information or to get involved please drop me an email via joes@cumbriachamber.co.uk“