Big step forward taken on Les Cotils' emotional journey
THERE were tears of joy at Les Cotils when the establishment discovered it had earned a silver award from hotel inspectors for Visit Guernsey.
The accolade, made alongside Les Cotils’ three-star guest house rating, was a significant milestone for managing director Fiona Naftel in her ongoing bid to enhance the historic Victorian property as a place to stay and visit.
An early inspection of the property made soon after she arrived in the post five years ago she described as ‘not the most inviting’ and the feedback reflected this.
And, deep down, Mrs Naftel knew the assessment was right. Rooms had no TV or wifi, and plastic jugs were provided to enable guests to wash their hair.
Problematically, the charitable status of Les Cotils meant it did not have money for refurbishments or to be able to borrow to achieve improvements.
But a planned programme of investment, supported by a significant legacy too, has enabled much modernising and upgrading to take place over the past few years.
‘Every year for the past five years the reports have been getting better,’ Mrs Naftel said.
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
