Our Integrity Statement
HIGHLAND HOSPITALITY for PEACE OF MIND
ENHANCED SAFETY MEASURES FROM LINKS HOUSE
Welcoming You Back – We are eagerly looking forward to opening the famous blue door of Links House on 26th April, to welcome our first guests of 2021! We have been preparing diligently to provide you with the same standards of luxury, ambience and staff friendliness that Links House is known for.
Our enhanced safety measures have been put in place to give you peace of mind during your stay in the Highlands.
What are we doing differently – You will see enhanced cleaning of all the public areas and touch points and we will be staggering check-in times and dining times as well as putting as much information about your stay online, so you have details in advance. We will have some one-way systems in place in the buildings to keep a flow to the property and to minimise unnecessary congregation.
Looking after our Team – our team have all been trained in Covid 19 safety measures and will be responsible for enhanced cleaning in all rooms across the hotel. They will wear some protective PPE such as face coverings and will be using disposable wipes/cloths and virus killing disinfectants for all hard surfaces. In addition they will maintain social distancing while working with colleagues. We will monitor and support our staff at the start and end of their duty periods, to ensure that they are healthy and adhering to all safety protocols.
Looking after our Guests – at the forefront of our mind, is to ensure that the guest experience is still one defined by the quality of the hotel and the various attractions and activities available and not for the enhanced safety measures, to become the point of focus. Guest rooms will be cleaned and disinfected to the highest possible standard, as will all other public rooms in the hotel.
The check-in and check-out process can be done online through our application and we can offer a varied food and beverage service. Room service facilities for tea and coffee is complimentary as in-room facilities have been removed to reduce touch points.
Additional hand sanitisers and wipes will be available in rooms and face coverings will be available to all guests.
What we ask of you – we would like guests to follow some simple procedures:
- Be considerate to fellow guests as each person’s idea of risk is different.
- Use the Hand Sanitiser Stations and wash hands regularly
- Check your emails as we will send you any updates using this means
Even though things may have changed a bit since you were last with us, we will be here ready to welcome you back whenever the time is right for you.
LINKS HOUSE GUEST JOURNEY – PEACE OF MIND
PRE ARRIVAL & CHECK IN
Guests can check-in online using our application or by telephone directly with our Guest Relations team. There is no need for a physical check-in at Reception on arrival. All guests will receive a link to our application in their pre-arrival email to allow check-in 72 Hours in advance. Our application also provides our room directory, local information and front desk messaging service.
Guests will receive the name of the room and the property and can go directly to their room on arrival. Room keys will be placed in the door of each room.
Check-In times may be delayed due to the additional deep cleaning that will be required, once guests vacate a room.
Should guests have a need to meet in person with either a Manager or with the Guest Relations team, they should inform reception and maintain social distancing in the reception area.
Guest Baggage – guests may take their baggage to their own rooms. However if they wish Links House staff to carry their baggage to their rooms, they should inform Reception before arrival and ask for assistance.
Guests should leave the vehicle doors open or leave baggage in the hallway of the property to enable staff to carry to the room. Staff will wear suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when handling baggage.
DINING AT LINKS HOUSE
Food & Beverage – We are delighted to announce the opening of our new restaurant concept MARA, at Links House.
Breakfast will be served in the restaurant from 7:00 – 9:30am and our Guest Relations team will discuss a suitable time to enjoy your morning dining.
Afternoon Tea will be served in the restaurant Wednesday to Saturday 12:30 – 3:30pm with last table reservations at 2:30pm. Advance booking is required.
Evening dining will have restrictions on dinner and alcohol service from our opening date and our team will keep you up to date with any changes. Our dining rooms will be laid out with 1m spacing and upon reservation of your stay, guests are advised to make dining arrangements.
Links House Chefs and Food & Beverage staff will wear appropriate PPE, when preparing and handling food and beverage.
MARA Seafood & Highland Fayre – 2021 will see the launch of our exciting new restaurant concept. Guests will be treated to gifts from Scotland’s waters, fields, forests and skies, presented with minimal interruption. Due to government restrictions on indoor dining times, we will be offering our Seasonal Tasting Menu and Evening Table d’Hote Menu which are both available to view here. Other menus will become available as restrictions lift. We will keep guests informed. We can’t wait to welcome you to enjoy the best seafood & highland fayre in Sutherland!
The Courtroom Wine Bar Brasserie – Food, Wine & Music is the motto of The Courtroom. Informal, all-day brasserie dining in the heart of Dornoch. 2021 will see a refreshed menu with all day breakfasts, sumptuous salads, the best burger in Dornoch and brasserie classics in the evening! Sunday is family day and The Courtroom Sunday Lunch must be booked early! You don’t want to miss out! View our sample menus here.
The Courtyard – Is the alfresco place to be in Dornoch! 7 days a week, 12:00 – 9:00pm, we will be offering up our vibrant street food menu and pop up bar! An ideal place to grab a bite or enjoy a sundowner or two. Sample menu available here.
Reservations for all our outlets can be made through our Guest Relations Team or via our resdiary booking system.
Room Service – room service for hot beverages and refreshments will be available throughout the day. Guests may let our team know their requirements and it shall be delivered to their room using butler trays. All items will be sanitised and staff wearing PPE will leave the items outside the room and alert the guests by knocking on the door. Guests should inform reception when staff can collect finished items.
Self Catering – for guests who book either Mallart in the Glenshiel property or Laxford in the Mews property, both have fully serviced kitchens and can therefore self cater. Nearest shops in Dornoch are CO-OP and the Dornoch Stores (Deli). In Tain, just a 10 minute drive south, you can find supermarkets LIDL, TESCO and ASDA.
HOUSEKEEPING
Room Servicing – Our already impeccable standards of Housekeeping will be maintained on a daily basis unless otherwise stated. We do request that guests are not present during housekeeping servicing for safety. Turndown will only be available on request.
Links House staff have been re-trained to use hospital grade cleaning chemicals and special attention will be made to cleaning areas such as, door handles, light switches, all bathroom surfaces, telephone, thermostat, wardrobe and TV remote. Room Directory and other non-essential paper will be removed from every room.
Hand Sanitisers, Disinfectant Wipes and Tissues – will be provided in all properties and in public areas for use by guests.
Use of Public Rooms – there is a lounge and library in the Main House and the Glenshiel property has its own drawing room on the ground floor. Guests may use all public rooms but will just need to consider the current social distancing norms, when other guests are present.
GOLF & TRANSPORT
Golf Clubs – guests have the option of keeping golf clubs in their rooms or of storing them in the Sporting Bothy, next to Royal Dornoch Golf Club.
Guest Cars – guests accommodated in Glenshiel, have their own free car park to the rear of the property and one vehicle space at the front of Glenshiel. Those guests in both the Main House and Mews have free car park space in the car park to the rear of the Main House.
Transport – Links House have partnerships with executive transport multi-purpose vehicles. Drivers maintain vehicle hygiene to the same standards as the hotel and will wear face masks and gloves when driving guests. Airport and Rail pick-ups and any other transportation requirements should be requested through Guest Relations.
CHECK OUT & DEPARTURE
Check Out Procedure – Using our online check out procedure, settlement for your stay will be made automatically. You may also check out over the phone and we appreciate the opportunity to thank you for your stay.
Guests should inform reception of estimated check-out time and seek assistance with baggage if required.
POINTS OF NOTE:
The North Highlands Environment – we are fortunate in that we are one of the most sparsely populated areas in Western Europe, with easy access to spectacular coastlines and rugged mountain interior. With the world-class golf and other outdoor pursuits on our doorstep, guests will have no trouble in social distancing!
Links House Rooms – with three different properties and very spacious rooms, we can guarantee a high level of independence for all our guests.
Best Practice – we continue to follow Government Guidelines and also follow best practices conducted by the world’s top hotel chains, when making decisions about additional safety measures at Links House.
All of these measures are subject to change and we are regularly monitoring the advice and guidelines of the Scottish and UK government alongside the World Health Organisation.