Ayrshire hotel claims top award

AWARDS: The Scottish Golf Tourism Awards took place at The National Museum of Scotland on 12 March (Image: The Golf Business)

An Ayrshire hotel has been congratulated for recent triumphs at two awards ceremony, being crowned the “Best Budget-Friendly” hotel at one of them.

The Abbotsford Hotel in Ayr struck gold at the “hugely successful” Scottish Golf Tourism and National Hotel of the Year awards, and has been praised by the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce.

The  Corsehill Road venue was recognised at the Golf Business awards for it’s budget-friendly approach on the 12 March event which, according to the website, placed it as one that “best caters to the needs of visiting golfers”.

Rising Star of the Year and “Ayr Hotel of the Year” were further accolades achieved at last years ceremony at Glasgow’s Crown Plaza.

Praising the overall winners at the National Museum of Scotland event last week, Scottish Golf Tourism said: “We are delighted to announce the winners of Scottish Golf Tourism Awards 2026.

“The awards recognised excellence across the gold tourism sector, celebrating the businesses, venues and individuals who continue to champion Scotland as the home of golf.”

“Best Budget-Friendly Hotel. 3 Star or Equivalent: Abbotsford Hotel, Ayr.”

Yet to comment on their latest award, owners Brian and Tina Daly, who took over the Abbotsford in 2023, spoke last February on the growth of their business.

South Carolina-born Tina said: “We were just thrilled to win, there was a lot of big hotels there so it was quite a shock.

“We try to pay attention to each detail, and we wanted to make the hotel unique but not tacky.

“I wanted to bring back that old time hospitality, and wanted to make the Abbotsford that home away from home.”

Other categories featured at the Golf Business awards included “Best Luxury hotel” and “Best Exclusive Use Venue”.

Ayr’s Abbotsford Hotel was built in 1916, originally as a private residence, overlooking the town’s Old Racecourse with its former name being the Iona Hotel.

The current hotel name has stayed since 1966 when it was under the ownership of the Hunter family before handing over to the Dalys in 2023.