Renowned Scottish Hotelier Ken McCulloch Dies at 76

The passing of Scottish hotelier Ken McCulloch, at the age of 76, has prompted an outpouring of tributes. He is recognized for establishing the Malmaison and Dakota hotel chains. Born in Glasgow in 1948, McCulloch commenced his professional journey as a commis chef. His early culinary roles included positions in the kitchens of the Malmaison restaurant, located within Glasgow’s Central Hotel, and the Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire. In collaboration with his wife, designer Amanda Rosa, he converted Glasgow’s Cavendish Hotel into One Devonshire Gardens, where he was awarded a Michelin star in 1996. Subsequently, Mr. McCulloch established the Malmaison Hotel Group, launching its inaugural property in Edinburgh in 1994. He later relocated to Monaco, where he and his wife Amanda collaborated with racing driver David Coulthard to acquire the Abela Hotel, which they then redeveloped into the Columbus Hotel. In 2004, he founded Dakota Hotels, prior to his return to Glasgow in 2009. During a 2017 interview with BBC Scotland News, following the inauguration of a new Dakota establishment in Glasgow, he stated: “In my world I strive to make my hotels and restaurants a little bit better every day. That is my focus. “A Michelin star can only help that but it should not be taken literally. It should be kept in perspective.” Harry Murray, president of the Hospitality Professionals Association, offered a tribute, remarking: “Ken was one of the most successful creative and consummate hoteliers of the past 35 years. “He created hotels and brands with total focus on guests, his attention to detail was inspiring.”