West Lothian hotel's leisure club goes the egg-stra mile for children at Easter
Almost 400 children enjoyed a chocolate Easter treat thanks to a hotel in Broxburn. Houstoun House, part of the Macdonald Hotels & Resorts group, collected and donated almost a total of 379 Easter eggs to local families. As part of the four-star hotel's ongoing commitment to supporting local communities, the chocolate eggs were gifted to West Lothian Food Bank, and children's wards at St John's Hospital in Livingston. The chocolate eggs were donated by generous members of Houstoun House's leisure club in the four weeks leading up to Easter weekend. Houstoun House is one of 15 hotels across the Macdonald Hotels & Resorts group which took part in the Easter egg collection, donating more than 1,500 chocolate eggs to food banks and children's charities across the UK. Shannon Quinn, leisure club manager at Houstoun House, said: 'At Houstoun House we're more than just a leisure club, and the success of our Easter egg collection reflects our strong ties to the local community and our ethos of giving back. The generosity of our members, and the dedication of our team, has been warmly received by so many families in the local area this Easter.' Set in 22 acres of woodlands in a secluded spot in Uphall, West Lothian, Houstoun House features 73 luxurious bedrooms, a tranquil spa and fully-equipped leisure club, a fine-dining restaurant located in the historic 16th century tower, and a vaulted bar in the hotel's characterful cellars. For more information about Houstoun House, or to join the leisure club, visit: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/houstoun-house Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here .
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brits face summer of rolling chaos on 12 Spanish holiday islands
British holidaymakers face potential strike action in popular tourist destinations this summer as unions threaten a number of walkouts due to a row over wages Holidaymakers face disruption on 12 Spanish holiday islands this summer as workers threaten to hold a series of strikes. Spanish hotel bosses have proposed substantial wage increases for their staff, but unions have rejected the offer, threatening disruptive strikes this summer that could impact thousands of British holidaymakers. Union leaders in the Balearic Islands are vowing "several days of strikes" in July and worker protests from the end of this month unless their pay demands are met. Meanwhile, in Tenerife and three other Canary Islands, British tourists have been warned to brace themselves for potential chaos this summer if hotel workers follow through with their threat to strike every Friday during July and August. The likelihood of walkouts in both popular holiday destinations has increased as employers raised their pay offers, only to be dismissed by union leaders who labelled the proposed rises as "crumbs." The Canary Islands are made up of eight main islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro, and La Graciosa. The Balearic Islands number 151 in total, but the big four workers will likely target with strikes are Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. At the same time as works threaten to strike over industrial disputes, overtourism protesters are planning to hit the streets in holiday hotspots across Spain. Grassroots union members staged protests outside two hotels in southern Tenerife on Tuesday to protest against the Ashotel employers' association's "blocking" of a 6.5% wage increase before the negotiation of a new hospitality agreement. Hotel chiefs in the Balearic Islands upped a wage rise proposal already on the table to 9.5 per cent over three years - but were warned to expect a 'no' from worker representatives set to demand more than double that at a crucial meeting this afternoon. UGT union spokesman Jose Garcia Relucio described the offer ahead of the meeting as "more crumbs" and claimed hotel bosses wanted their workers to survive on tips. READ MORE: Little-known airport rule could see Brits slapped with £1,000 fine Further south, the prospect of strike action this summer seems more likely after a lukewarm response from unions to a proposed 13.5 per cent pay rise over three years by hotel association Ashotel. Late yesterday, Ashotel unveiled its new wage increase proposals, which would impact over 33,000 workers in Tenerife and the islands of La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. The statement read: "This increase is broken down as follows: seven per cent in the first year from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, 3.25 per cent from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, and the remaining 3.25 per cent from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2028." A representative for the hotel association added, describing a previous Easter hotel strike in the area as "unfair": "Ashotel has always been open to negotiate, even with a collective agreement in force until 2026 and with a strike held at Easter, which it considers was unfair." Union members are scheduled to vote on potential strike action next Monday in Tenerife and the western Canary Islands. If they proceed, the first strike is slated for July 4, followed by further industrial action every Friday for the remainder of July and August. Unions are also planning to stage protests outside hotel entrances. During the last strike in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, union representatives highlighted that the tourism subsector depends on an increasingly precarious workforce, with exhausting workdays, insufficient wages for a decent living, and conditions that directly impact the physical and mental health of workers. "They talk a lot about tourism excellence, about how we are a leading destination, but they don't talk about the conditions endured by the workers who keep this sector alive. It's over; it's time to recognise and value the role we play, and that must be reflected in a fair agreement," stated José Tomás Ramos, a member of the negotiating table for the Provincial Hospitality Collective Agreement in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the UGT (Union of Workers' Unions).
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Spain tourist hotspot faces summer of 'changeover day' travel chaos
Hotel staff across Tenerife and the western Canary Islands will walk out every Friday in July and August amid growing tensions between unions and hoteliers Hotel staff across Tenerife and the western Canary Islands are preparing for a series of strikes this summer, with plans for weekly walkouts every Friday in July and August amid escalating tensions between unions and hoteliers. The action could wreak havoc in a destination favoured by Brits - and it will be particularly disruptive as Friday is typically a changeover day for travellers. Sindicalistas de Base, the leading union in the hospitality sector, announced on Monday that it plans to formally propose strike action at a union committee meeting scheduled for 16th June. The proposed action includes protests outside major chain hotels and a series of strikes starting from Friday 4th July, according to the Canarian. This potential industrial action comes just months after similar strikes over the Easter period caused disruptions in the tourism industry, highlighting ongoing grievances about pay and working conditions in one of the Canary Islands' key economic sectors. Union leader Manuel Fitas pointed out that on 29th May, the union issued a 15-day ultimatum to hotel associations Ashotel and Aero to agree to a 6.5% pay rise before entering any new contract discussions, a deadline which is now fast approaching. Fitas slammed the employers' inflexible stance on pay negotiations, criticising their "stubborn refusal" to discuss wage rises separately without a full renegotiation of the collective agreement, which he said has forced the union's hand towards a "new escalation" in the dispute. If strikes roll out, they'll hammer tourism's core during its peak season, straining hoteliers and potentially leaving thousands of holidaymakers in the lurch, compelling a return to talks. The spectre of overtourism sparks battles across Spain this year. A fresh wave of protests is slated for 15 June, hitting hotspots like the Canary Islands, Majorca, Barcelona and other urban areas including Ibiza, Valencia, and Bilbao. Last summer saw locals enraged, rallying against the tourist flood in Barcelona, the Canaries and Majorca, with some residents even pinning property price surges on tourists and "digital nomads". A new series of demonstrations have kicked off this week, steered by the Southern European Network Against Touristisation, following initial protests that erupted in April 2025, with thousands marching to air worries over rampant tourism and escalating living costs attributed to the influx of visitors. Activist groups such as Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) in Majorca, are calling for more sustainable tourism practices, restrictions on growth and improved protection for local environments and communities. These groups are orchestrating coordinated actions in cities across Spain, including Palma (Majorca), Barcelona, Lanzarote and Donostia-San Sebastián. Significant protests are planned in the following cities:
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Spain hotspot UK tourist chaos warning as hotel staff to 'strike every week on this day all summer'
The industrial action is being proposed in response to the "stubborn refusal" of employers to agree to a wage increase Hotel staff across Tenerife and the western Canary Islands are gearing up for a series of strikes this summer, with plans for weekly walkouts every Friday in July and August amid growing tensions between unions and hoteliers. The move could cause chaos in a destination popular with Brits - and it will be particularly disruptive as Friday is commonly a changeover day for travellers. Sindicalistas de Base, the primary union in the hospitality sector, declared on Monday that it intends to formally propose strike action at a union committee meeting scheduled for 16th June. The proposed action includes demonstrations outside major chain hotels and a sequence of strikes starting from Friday 4th July, the Canarian reported. This potential industrial action looms just months after similar strikes over the Easter period caused disruptions in the tourism industry, underscoring persistent grievances regarding pay and working conditions in one of the Canary Islands' key economic areas. Union leader Manuel Fitas highlighted that on 29th May, the union issued a 15-day ultimatum to hotel associations Ashotel and Aero to consent to a 6.5% pay rise before entering any new contract talks, a deadline which is now rapidly approaching. Fitas condemned what he termed the employers' "stubborn refusal" to negotiate wage increases separately from a complete renegotiation of the collective agreement, stating that this stance has compelled the union to prepare for a "new escalation" in the dispute. Should the strikes go ahead, they would strike at the heart of the tourism sector during its busiest season, potentially impacting thousands of tourists and increasing the pressure on hotel owners to return to the negotiating table. The issue of overtourism has been a cause of much conflict in Spain this year. A new bout of protests are scheduled for 15 June across Spain – in the Canary Islands, Majorca, Barcelona and other cities like Ibiza, Valencia and Bilbao. Last summer, in 2024, unhappy residents took to the streets of Barcelona, the Canary Islands and Majorca to protest against the overcrowding by tourists in peak seasons. Some even blamed rising house prices on tourists and 'digital nomads'. This week, a new round of protests is taking place, organised by the Southern European Network Against Touristisation. The protests began in earnest in April 2025, with thousands taking to the streets to voice concerns about mass tourism and the rising cost of living said to be driven by tourism. Activist groups like Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) in Majorca, are demanding more sustainable tourism practices, limits on growth and better protection for local environments and communities. These groups are organising coordinated actions in cities across Spain, including Palma (Majorca), Barcelona, Lanzarote and Donostia-San Sebastián. Major demonstrations are scheduled in the following cities:
