Executive Leadership Team

Donald Emslie, Chairman

Donald has worked in the media and broadcasting industry for over 20 years and was a director at SMG plc for 7 years, latterly as Chief Executive. He has chaired many organisations including ITV Network Ltd, GMTV Ltd and he is currently a Non Executive Director of Scottish Water and SRU plc. He also chairs the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Scotland’s second biggest tourist attraction and The Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh.

During his time at SMG Donald launched stv.tv and PeoplesChampion.com and undertook major rebranding projects including merging Scottish and Grampian TV into stv.tv  He was also the Project Director for the £30m design and build of STV’s new HQ at Pacific Quay in Glasgow.

Peter Murphy

Peter (CEO) has been in the hotel industry for 30 years and has managed 5 star hotels in areas as diverse as Edinburgh, London, Turkey, Italy and Portugal. He worked for Starwood for over 20 years, latterly at the Sheraton Grand Edinburgh where he took the hotel to new international heights including development of Europe’s leading spa and winning many awards of recognition on the way. Most recently he was MD for Scotland and N.E. England for Macdonald Hotels. He has a reputation within the hospitality sector for delivering operational excellence, leadership and financial performance.

Peter is also a trustee of HIT (Hospitality Industry Trust) and has been instrumental in helping shape developments in the tourism industry through his work as Chairman at the Edinburgh Principal Hotels Association, amongst others.

Andrew Phelan

After graduating in Ireland, Andrew went to Switzerland in order to further develop his career in the hospitality industry. Andrew’s experience includes, amongst other, time at Mount Juliet and St. Andrews Old Course Hotel. His experience outside core hotel management includes working with a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, Shooting School and Equestrian Centre and staging major events. Andrew, in recent years, has set up a very successful Project Management and Marketing Consultancy.

This has resulted in managing a number of high-profile projects in Europe including Zala Springs Hungary, The Heritage Golf & Spa Resort and Spa, Mount Wolseley Hotel & Golf Resort, plus the launch of a new hotel brand company.

Stephen Coupe

Stephen is well-known amongst UK hoteliers and is widely considered an experienced, inspirational and dynamic leader of hospitality teams, with exceptional attention to detail.

A graduate of Surrey University’s hotel school, Stephen has been connected with some of the best hospitality businesses in the UK including Cromlix House, One Devonshire Gardens, The Buttery and Rogano restaurants, The Royal Scotsman Train and Loch Lomond Golf Club where his role coincided with the development of a new spa and second golf course.

Stephen has consulted on luxury travel projects around the world, including India, Canada, Ireland, France and South Africa. He has been involved in a range of projects, including the feasibility of a new luxury train to link London and Paris and a 5 star coastal resort in Turkey. More recently, he has been working with a UK investor to acquire Relais & Chateaux properties and assisting a property investment company to set up a luxury serviced apartment line of business.

Brian Hunter

Brian Hunter is an independent Leisure & Spa Consultant, and former MD of Spa Developments, an International Spa Design & Consultancy Company based in Glasgow.

Brian experience started in London and on to Asia where he spent his career developing and running Spas & Leisure facilities. This included five years as Sport & Spa Director at the Pacific Club in Hong Kong.  Brian has also been involved in the development of Country Clubs and spas in destinations as diverse as India and Singapore. 

Brian eventually brought his expertise back to Scotland and opened Escape Health Club at the Scotsman Hotel before joining Starwood Hotel Group as General Manager to open and run the now international award-winning One Spa in Edinburgh. During his time at Starwood Brian was involved in an advisory capacity with Spa & leisure branding development and standards for the company.

Brian's extensive consultancy background in the luxury leisure & spa industry crosses design consultancy, branding, marketing and financial solutions. His experience is unparalleled in this market.

Stewart Smith

Stewart has worked in the golf business for twenty-five years and been a PGA Professional during that time. Having begun his career as a tour player Stewart has also worked in England, Scandinavia and the United States. He returned to his native Scotland in 1987 and was a PGA committee member and successful Club Professional, latterly at Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club.  In addition he has run retail outlets which have since been sold to American Golf.

Stewart has been Director of Golf at Southern Gailes (now Dundonald) and completed a two year contract with the destination marketing initiative "Scottish Golf South West" prior to project managing the Carrick development at Cameron House Hotel for De Vere. He has just completed a consultancy period with the exclusive  Renaissance Club in East Lothian and continues to consult to a number of high profile businesses in Britain.