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Scottish Sun
25-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Luxury Scots hotel in popular seaside spot crowned best spa & golf destination
Read on for the full list of winners A LUXURY hotel located in a popular Scottish seaside spot has been crowned the best spa and golf destination. The Gailes Hotel scooped the top gong at this year's highly-valued Innis and Gunn Prestige Hotel Awards. 4 The Gailes hotel in Irvine has been crowned the best spa and golf destination Credit: SimpsInns 4 The on-site restaurant serves up some tasty meals for guests 4 An overnight spa break includes a hot tub The Oscars of the hotel world were dished out at a swanky ceremony in Glasgow last week. Finalists from all over Scotland attended the event which was hosted by Des Clarke at Doubletree By Hilton. And the Gailes Hotel on Marine Drive in Irvine, Ayrshire, scooped the award for the best spa and golf hotel. The hotel and spa is owned by Irvine-based Simpson family, who are the driving force behind SimpsInns. They own and operate a collection of award- winning hotels, restaurants, bars, spas, golf and leisure activities along the Ayrshire coast, including The Loans at Troon. Located just 40 minutes from Glasgow, The Gailes Hotel & Spa has a reputation as one of Ayrshire's leading luxury wellness destinations, offering a collection of over 50 personalised treatments, day spa packages and overnight chill-out breaks. It's surrounded by some of Scotland's world famous links courses plus there's a full range of facilities on site at Gailes Golf. Western Gailes, Dundonald Links and Gailes Links are on their doorstep, while Open Championship venues such as Royal Troon, Turnberry and Prestwick are all within easy reach. On site, golf fanatics can enjoy Ayrshire's only Toptracer driving range, PGA teaching studio and much more. SimpsInns' Waterside Hotel at West Kilbride was also Highly Recommended in the Four Star Hotel category. Inside the invite-only superyacht 'sea hotel' with four-story penthouse - & another $450m 'twin' ship is on the way Malcolm Simpson from SimpsInns, said: "We're extremely proud to have been recognised once again as an industry leader and for offering some of the best hotel, spa and golf experiences in Scotland. "This latest award success for two of our hotels is testament to the hard work of our amazing team, who continually go above and beyond to ensure every guest enjoys a fantastic experience with us and keep coming back." Malcolm added: "Continued investment has been a key strategy for the growth of Simpsinns over the last three years, with over £4 million invested across the group. We're committed to enhancing the quality of the guest experience across the group, including our newly refurbished restaurant at Loans Inn and the addition of 17 new bedrooms and sea view spa at The Waterside later this year." Awards Director Warren Paul said: "It's worth saying the calibre of the people here tonight is quite incredible – it's fantastic for us to see very senior bosses from hotels across the country here in person introducing their future generations to us, and demonstrating just how important and impactful these awards can be. 4 The venue has a reputation as one of Ayrshire's leading luxury wellness destinations "They're all the very best operators in Scotland, delivering amazing service and much- needed escape from the rigours of modern life. "We all need time out to rest, recover, recharge – especially right now – so our world-class, in fact world-beating hospitality industry should be celebrated and shouted from the rooftops. "I really wish the powers that be would support and help the hard-working people who give up their weekends, days and nights to offer the rest of us all sorts of amazing breaks and escapes. "Whatever you want to do, you can find it in Scotland – and here tonight. Full list of Prestige 2025 winners BEST 3* Hotel - Brander Lodge Hotel BEST 4* Hotel (CENTRAL( - The Parklands Hotel, Perth BEST 4* Hotel (EAST) - The Scholar Hotel BEST 4* Hotel (NORTH) - The Glenesk Country House Hotel and Spa BEST 4* Hotel (WEST) - Glasgow Marriott Hotel BEST 5* Hotel - Rusacks St. Andrews BEST B&B / GUESTHOUSE - The Auld Kirk B&B BEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL - Cromlix BEST CITY HOTEL - Sandman Signature Glasgow Hotel BEST CONCIERGE - Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow – John Leese BEST COUNTRY HOTEL - Kingshouse Hotel, Glencoe BEST ECO/SUSTAINABLE HOTEL - Voco Haymarket Edinburgh BEST EVENTS AND CONFERENCE HOTEL - Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow BEST GENERAL MANAGER - Doubletree by Hilton Glasgow Central – Andrew Diegan BEST HISTORIC/HERITAGE HOTEL - Cromlix BEST HOLIDAY RENTAL ACCOMDATION - Harris Hideaway BEST HOTEL BAR - Radisson RED Glasgow BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT - Rusacks St. Andrews BEST INDEPENDENTLY OWNED HOTEL - Glynhill Hotel & Spa BEST ISLAND HOTEL - Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa BEST PET FRIENDLY HOTEL - The Riverside Lodge Hotel BEST SPA/GOLF HOTEL - The Gailes Hotel & Spa BEST TEAM - The Scholar Hotel BEST VALUE HOTEL - Holiday Inn Express Aberdeen BEST WEDDING HOTEL - Lochside House Hotel RAD "From the perfect wedding hotel to the most incredible hotel bar in the heart of Glasgow's music city, country retreats, island hotels, bustling city breaks, cosy retreats for private rental, all of it. "We have it all, Scotland really is special and the offerings in this trade are stellar. That's why we are here – to showcase the results of the hard work by so many people, and to recognise and thank them." Elsewhere at the awards, Andy Murray's luxury five-star Cromlix resort served up a double win at the Hotel Oscars. And the Best Value award went to the Holiday Inn Express hotel in Aberdeen. Other standouts including Rusacks St Andrews, Edinburgh's Voco Haymarket and Radisson RED Glasgow picked up key honours.
Daily Record
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Ayrshire luxury hotels named among best in Scotland at prestigious awards ceremony
The Gailes Hotel & Spa in Irvine and the Waterside Hotel in West Kilbride were among the winners. Two Ayrshire hotels were among the winners at the eighth annual Scottish Prestige Hotel Awards in Glasgow. The Gailes Hotel & Spa in Irvine and the Waterside Hotel in West Kilbride, both owned and operated by the SimpsInns group, were recognised on the night. Scotland's best spa and golf hotel 2025 was awarded to the Gailes which was praised by judges for its 'exceptional facilities and service'. The Waterside was also highly recommended in the four-star hotel category. The Prestige Hotel Awards showcase and reward outstanding service across Scotland's hotel industry following a nationwide public vote. The awards welcome over 500 hotels and hospitality businesses across Scotland. The Irvine-based Simpson family is the driving force behind SimpsInns, which owns and operates a collection of award-winning hotels, restaurants, bars, spa, golf, and leisure activities along the Ayrshire coast, including The Gailes, The Waterside, and Loans Inn at Troon. Malcolm Simpson from SimpsInns, said: 'We're extremely proud to have been recognised once again as an industry leader and for offering some of the best hotel, spa and golf experiences in Scotland. 'This latest award success for two of our hotels is testament to the hard work of our amazing team, who continually go above and beyond to ensure every guest enjoys a fantastic experience with us and keep coming back. 'Continued investment has been a key strategy for the growth of Simpsinns over the last three years, with over £4 million invested across the group. 'We're committed to enhancing the quality of the guest experience across the group, including our newly refurbished restaurant at Loans Inn and the addition of 17 new bedrooms and sea view spa at The Waterside later this year.'
Los Angeles Times
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Los Angeles Times
Irvine EV Starup Alpha Motor Corp. Finds Success Using a Unique Business Model and Funding Structure
Alpha Motor has a straightforward mission – to deliver an entry-level electric vehicle that has appeal to the masses. In the crowded electric vehicle marketplace, it's an area where there is great opportunity, but the pathway to scale a new automotive company is a longer and windier road filled with more potholes than Mulholland Drive in a downpour. The Irvine-based automaker has slowly and steadily made an entrance into the electric vehicle marketplace with their Wolf, an electric truck designed for the masses with a price point that will range from $40,000 to $46,000. The truck, which features a full-size bed, an estimated 268 HP electric motor and an up to 325-mile range also features design cues, courtesy of founder and CEO Edward Lee's auto design background, that give it an eye-catching look unlike anything on the road. Alpha is on track to deliver 150 custom-built vehicles this year as it solidifies its manufacturing process with an eye toward scalability in the coming years. 'We design, engineer and produce everything locally,' said Edward Lee, co-founder and CEO. 'We also have several prototypes and manufacture them on a custom vehicle basis.' Alpha's design philosophy is built from solving issues with design, fitment and performance on a software level vs. traditional mockup, saving time and most importantly, Lee said, cost. Knowing parts will fit and function prior to manufacturing allows the company to scale quickly, he added. The company uses a modular, frame-on approach to build its cars, rather than the unibody architecture favored by many manufacturers where the cabin of the vehicle is fused with the chassis. The modular design allows for a wider range of materials and parts in the vehicle's construction because each element can be interchangeable and sourced from multiple suppliers. Parts are sourced 100% domestically, leading to a tariff-proof – and largely, a shortage-proof – supply chain, part of what Lee says will keep costs down and large-scale manufacturing feasible. Once the frame is created, batteries and powertrains can be selected by a consumer based on their needs and price constraints. With the Wolf, this can be its single-motor design or an all-wheel-drive setup good for an estimated 335 HP and increased off-roading capability. The modular design also allows consumers to save on costs if they want a smaller battery capacity for more local commuting. The market for electric vehicle powertrains (their electric motors and the batteries that power them) is expected to grow exponentially over the next two decades as the technology increases electric vehicle adoption rates worldwide. The electric vehicle powertrain market was valued at $20 billion this year and is likely to reach approximately $159.8 billion by 2035, according to a recent industry report from Future Market Insights Inc., which equates to a 23.1% compound annual growth rate. 'The approach that we're taking is to separate what is expensive from what is affordable, meaning that we separate the battery and powertrain from everything else,' said Lee. 'We want to make sure that our process is efficient, flexible and scalable.' A Startup Mentality with a Personal TouchEdward Lee and co-founder and COO Jada Lee (unrelated) have been friends since high school and remained in contact as they pursued careers in distinctly separate fields. Edward Lee has worked with several major auto manufacturers as an engineer for vehicle design and development. Jada Lee went to law school and worked with large law firms on corporate financing and transactions. Edward Lee approached Jada Lee for operational advice. She had experience working with companies on fundraising, new business formation, mergers and public offerings. Several clients have approached her throughout her career to join their companies, but she has always declined. However, she reached a point in life where she felt comfortable making a career change and trusted Edward Lee's knowledge of the automotive industry. The pair launched the company in 2020 with their own funds and have supported growth without venture capital or institutional investment. While launching a company during the height of the pandemic may not seem ideal, Jada Lee noted that it allowed them to save time and costs by meeting suppliers on video calls rather than taking costly trips for meet-and-greets. 'We held meetings with suppliers that traditionally you'd have to fly over to meet, but people were fine doing everything virtually. It made things more efficient for us,' said Jada Lee. The pandemic also focused attention on the electric vehicle industry. Investment funds that had large amounts of capital available to pursue new technologies invested heavily in several electric vehicle startups. Companies such as Fisker Automotive, which was originally based in Manhattan Beach, and Torrance-based Canoo tried to scale rapidly but folded quickly as they couldn't establish a large enough consumer base for their vehicles. One area where Alpha has connected with its potential customers – and raised funds in the process – is through equity crowdfunding. It's a process that was created with legislation about 10 years ago that allows small investors to purchase shares directly in companies. The size of offerings is limited to up to $15 million. In addition to stock, investors can receive other perks such as discounts on product purchases. Alpha Motor has raised about $2.5 million through offerings on StartEngine, an equity crowdfunding platform. It has conducted two rounds of fundraising on the site, most recently at a $350-million company valuation. Although the funds help with operations, it's not nearly enough to scale the company to produce a vehicle for the mass market. Instead, the campaigns were utilized as a test to see if there was interest in the company and allow people to be part of its community from the early stages. That vision has been supported by more than 80,000 vehicle preorder indications to date with zero ad dollars spent. In addition, the company is profitable and has generated more than $1 million in revenue since its founding. 'Crowdfunding offers an opportunity to engage with our supporters without an intermediary which ensures that message remains clear, authentic, and it creates a space where our voice prevails, unfiltered and unaltered,' said Jada Lee. 'This is really important when we're trying to set our mission and stay focused on our vision.' Many startup companies are utilizing this style of revenue building, including electric auto manufacturers. For example, Carlsbad-based Aptera Motors Corp. has designed a solar-powered vehicle that can generate enough electricity to drive 40 miles per day and is supported by a battery with a 400-mile range. Aptera was founded in 2019 and has raised more than $135 million and taken reservations for 48,000 vehicles. Yet despite its significant fundraising, Aptera is utilizing a crowdfunding campaign to connect with customers by providing investors with a discount and priority on new orders. In the United States, electric vehicles account for about 8% of new vehicle sales annually. Many traditional manufacturers such as Ford, General Motors, Toyota and others have launched new models, but their adoption has been slow. 'Traditional auto OEMs launched a lot of new models last year. When new vehicles come online, the expectation is that more would be purchased, but the adoption rate for electric cars has held steady compared to prior years,' said Lenny LaRocca, U.S. automotive industry leader for global accounting and advisory firm KPMG. 'The electric vehicle space is a difficult one to turn a profit.' Furthermore, there is competition in the global market from Chinese automakers that produce entry-level vehicles with a much broader appeal to younger car buyers due to their lower prices. Entry-level electric vehicles can be purchased in China with starting prices below $10,000. In the United States, the Nissan Leaf is one of the lowest-priced mainstream electric vehicles and has a starting price of around $30,000. Overall, cars are slightly more expensive in the United States. According to data from Kelley Blue Book, the average sale price for electric cars was $59,205 in March, compared with gas-powered vehicles at $47,462. Those prices are thought to go up with a looming tariff showdown that could affect products such as cars. Those higher costs are compounded by persistently high interest rates and increasingly negative consumer sentiment. For Edward Lee, the current economic conditions, however, are not nearly as challenging as the economic downturn that auto manufacturers weathered in 2008-09. During that period, he was working as a designer at Toyota and saw firsthand how one of the world's largest automakers focused on operational efficiency and the needs of the consumer without compromising quality. 'Fundamentally, this is the reason why we are confident in what we are doing and know that we can persevere and be resilient through evolving market conditions. We have a lot of people who want to buy our cars,' he said.
Los Angeles Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Irvine Homebuilder New Home Company Acquires Texas Firm
The New Home Company Inc., an Irvine-based home developer, agreed to acquire Dallas-based Landsea Homes Corp. for approximately $430 million. The agreement calls for New Home to acquire all outstanding shares of Landsea Homes for $11.30 per share in cash, which represented a 61% premium to the share price prior to the announcement on May 12. 'Our acquisition of Landsea Homes is an important next step in New Home's long-term growth strategy,' said Matthew Zaist, president and chief executive of New Home, in a statement. The transaction was supported by Apollo Funds, the majority shareholder of New Home, which committed $650 million of new cash equity to facilitate the transaction. The merger is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025. Upon completion, Landsea Homes will become a privately held company, and its common stock will no longer be listed on Nasdaq. The combined company will be led by Zaist. 'This transaction underscores our high conviction in the housing market opportunity and the teams at New Home and Landsea Homes,' said Peter Sinensky, partner at Apollo and a member of New Home's board of directors, in a statement. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, RBC Capital Markets, Vestra Advisors, and Wells Fargo served as financial advisors to New Home. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP acted as legal counsel to New Home. Moelis & Company LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to Landsea Homes, while Latham & Watkins LLP acted as its legal counsel. Information for this article was sourced from Landsea Homes.
Los Angeles Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Samsung's Harman to Acquire Masimo's Sound United Consumer Audio Business for $350 Million
Irvine-based Masimo Corp. agreed to sell its Sound United consumer audio business to HARMAN International Industries Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., for $350 million. The deal is expected to close by the end of 2025. 'Finding the right home for this business has been a stated priority of the new board from day one, and this transaction represents an important milestone as we continue to position the company to achieve our goals of accelerating revenue growth while delivering disciplined margins. Masimo has tremendous opportunities ahead, and we are confident we have the right healthcare-focused strategy, experienced leadership team and culture of innovation in place to build on our significant positive momentum,' said Quentin Koffey, vice chairman of Masimo's board of directors, in a statement. Sullivan & Cromwell served as legal adviser to Masimo. Information for this article was sourced from Harman.
