Speaking exclusively to C&IT during golf's Ryder Cup last week, Gleneagles director of events and leisure, Stuart Smith, revealed the luxury venue would be constructing the 2,500sqm event space to open in early 2015, at a cost of £650,000.
With capacity for 500-2,000 guests, the versatile arena will enable the five-star resort to host much larger-scale events including conferences, exhibitions, product launches, concerts and team-building events, as well as doubling up as a four-court indoor tennis centre.
When asked about the legacy from holding golf's showpiece event at Gleneagles, Smith said: "One of the reasons we pushed for the Ryder Cup was that, as a standalone hotel, it helps raise our status and attract more corporate business in the future."
He added: "We are now converting the main equestrian arenas into a large-scale event space – to open in February 2015. It will add to our already significant offering here at Gleneagles, including championship golf, fine dining, team-building activities and our evolving meetings and events offer."
The Gleneagles Arena features will include:
• Floor space of 2500 square metres
• creation of a new combined reception and retail area
• 650 viewing seats
• Loading bay access doors
• Dedicated access route from car park, with 500 spaces
Recent upgrades at Gleneagles have include a £5 million refurbishment of The Club earlier in 2014 and a £3 million overhaul of the Dormy Clubhouse in 2011. In September, Gleneagles also completed a £250,000 refurbishment of its flagship conference venue, The Gleneagles Suite.
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