Female future at Balmoral

The first female general manager at Edinburugh's Balmoral is to be appointed next month. Debbie Taylor, currently GM at Rocco Forte's St David's Hotel and Spa in Cardiff, is to replace Gerhard Schaller.

The news came as the company revealed that David Pantin, the managing director of operations in the UK and Russia, is leaving. Pantin is emigrating to Australia. Pantin's duties will be performed by Moreno Occhiolini and Richard Power.

Separately, the company announced it is to build a £86m hotel in Sicily. The 200-bedroom resort development is due to open in 2007. The project has been backed by a grant from the Italian government to boost foreign investment in the country.