Skene House History
Charles Skene returned to the family photographic firm of Studio Morgan in 1955, aged 20, after having served two years' national service in the Royal Navy. He quickly built the business into one of the most profitable photographic businesses in the UK combining an innate skill in the art of photography with business acumen.
In the early 70s, after 20 years behind a camera, Charles began to look for a new business challenge. He saw an opportunity for a better alternative to hotel accommodation for the many families and individuals relocating to Aberdeen because of the “black gold” found off the North East Coast of Scotland.
Believing that an entrepreneur is a “dreamer who does” he negotiated a deal to purchase a property portfolio of 400 traditional Edwardian and Victorian flats and shops in Aberdeen and Glasgow.
He believed that for people to “feel at home” they want to have a “home from home” environment. Charles identified the "serviced apartment" model of accommodation as being an ideal match for his flats and oil personnel's relocation needs.
However, it wasn't long before Charles felt that a serviced apartment was too limited in terms of service and didn't fully meet the needs of his guests.
He added a range of hotel services and created Aberdeen's unique Skene House HotelSuites.
The late eighties to late nineties was a period of great change: he invested £7m upgrading 39 flats on Union Grove and Holburn Street into Skene House Holburn, a luxury boutique HotelSuites development, and added front- and back-of-house services to create Skene House Whitehall as a stand-alone development.
In 2005 Charles developed a landmark Rosemount building into 3 flexible, purpose-designed ConferenceSuites to add another “string to our bow”. This conversion also incorporated a further 37 superior suites to the Skene House Rosemount HotelSuites' portfolio in a more contemporary, minimal, loft-like style – just so that we could offer even more choice to our guests!
And what next we wonder? Watch this space!
