The Torridon boosts morale for live-in team members with raft of planned activities

Luxury five-star hotel The Torridon has committed to supporting its workforce during the COVID-19 lockdown, creating a bespoke guide for its household of live-in team members. 

[As reported in Boutique Hotelier]

In addition to continuing to provide complimentary accommodation and F&B to the 15 members of the team still living at the hotel during the national lockdown, owners Dan and Rohaise Rose-Bristow, who also live onsite, have designed a bespoke programme for the ‘Torridon household’, utilising the freed-up time created from the temporary closure of the Scottish Highlands hotel to upskill and maintain the team’s morale, sense of family and community. 

A specific training and development plan has been developed, including hospitality management courses, foreign language courses, resilience training and F&B courses to aid both personal and professional development.  

Wellness tips and activities to ensure all team members are looking after themselves are available to access on the hotel’s Facebook Workplace page, including how to be mindful, and what to do to move their body more when they do go out for their daily exercise. 

Activities such as group hiking, the ‘Torridon Olympics’, running club and helping out with the maintenance of the Kitchen Garden and Torridon Farm are encouraged and have been taking place throughout the week.

Due to the team living as one household, they are able to conduct these together within the 58-acre estate of the hotel, and additionally allows for them to understand the guest offering further and each other’s job roles when the hotel is in full operation. 

Each month, team members are able to nominate those who have gone above and beyond to help out or maintain positive mental attitudes, and any team members who have made extra effort to learn a new skill in this time, to receive rewards. 

Speaking about the new programme, Dan Rose-Bristow, co-owner of The Torridon, said: “Despite having to close our doors temporarily to the public, we remain committed to ensuring our team feel part of The Torridon family and therefore wanted to encourage them to use this time productively and thoughtfully. Building on the practices that we already implement when the hotel is in full operation, our programme aims to provide additional support to our onsite team members to ensure they are looked after and feel engaged throughout these uncertain times.”