free membershipAbout myhotelbreak
A Family Business Built on Experience, Trust and a Love of Travel
myhotelbreak is a proud family-owned UK travel company specialising in handpicked hotel breaks across the United Kingdom.
Founded on decades of hospitality expertise, we do things differently. Every hotel we work with is carefully selected, personally reviewed, and continuously monitored to ensure our customers receive not just a stay—but a complete, high-quality experience.
From luxury spa retreats and romantic getaways to family-friendly breaks and last-minute escapes, our focus has always been simple:
Deliver exceptional UK hotel experiences with real value and genuine care.
Our Story: From a Kitchen Table in the Highlands
Our journey began in 1996, when our founder, Andrew Simpson, set up the business from his home in the Highlands of Scotland.
With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Andrew recognised a gap in the market. Independent hotels were struggling to compete with larger chains, and there was a growing opportunity to bring them together under a trusted network.
Starting at the kitchen table, Andrew built relationships with independently owned hotels across Scotland and began by offering group tours and bespoke travel packages to coach tour operators around the world.
This foundation—built on trust, partnerships, and deep industry knowledge—still defines us today.
Expanding Into Leisure Breaks
As demand grew, so did the business.
Customers increasingly wanted the same quality and value in their own personal holidays—not just group tours. In response, the company expanded into the UK leisure breaks market, offering tailored packages that included added-value extras such as:
- Dinner, bed & breakfast stays
- Spa experiences
- 2 nights for the price of 1
- Exclusive seasonal offers
- And much more
During this period, bookings were driven through printed brochures and national newspaper advertising, long before the digital travel boom.
A Digital Pioneer in UK Travel
We have always believed in staying ahead of the curve.
- 1997 – We launched our very first website, making us one of the early adopters of online travel in the UK
- 2003 – Under the name Classic Britain, we launched one of the first fully interactive, bookable hotel websites in Scotland—possibly the UK
This was before many major global travel platforms had even entered the market.
Our early investment in technology laid the foundation for the digital-first business we are today.
From Classic Scotland to Classic Britain
As the business expanded beyond Scotland, our original brand no longer reflected our growing reach.
- 1996 – Founded as Classic Scotland
- 2001 – Relocated from Fort William to Strathaven to support expansion
- 2003 – Rebranded to Classic Britain to reflect UK-wide growth
With more hotels joining our portfolio and increasing demand across England, Wales, and beyond, this evolution marked a significant step in our journey.
Building a National Brand
Over the following years, Classic Britain continued to grow its reputation as a trusted travel partner.
- 2011 – Launched our first national TV advertising campaign
- Built long-standing relationships with hotels—many of which still partner with us today
- Continued expanding our curated portfolio of UK hotel experiences
Our focus remained clear: quality over quantity, and relationships over transactions.
The Birth of My Hotel Break
As the travel industry evolved, so did we.
On 5th December 2015, Classic Britain officially rebranded as myhotelbreak, creating a modern, customer-focused identity aligned with the digital travel era.
This marked the beginning of a new phase of growth, driven by:
- A stronger online presence
- Investment in TV, digital marketing, SEO and social media
- Expansion of our product offering across the UK
- A continued focus on value-added hotel packages
Leading Through Change
In January 2020, Andrew’s son, Mark Simpson, took over as Managing Director as Andrew stepped into retirement.
Shortly after, the global travel industry faced one of its biggest ever challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite unprecedented disruption, myhotelbreak:
- Adapted quickly to changing customer needs
- Strengthened relationships with hotel partners
- Continued to innovate across digital channels
- Delivered some of the strongest sales periods in the company’s history following recovery
This period reinforced what has always set us apart—resilience, adaptability, and a strong customer-first mindset.
What Makes Us Different
In a crowded online travel market, we stand apart through our approach.
Handpicked Hotels
We don’t list thousands of properties. Every hotel is carefully selected to meet our standards.
Personally Inspected
We visit and review our partner hotels to ensure quality and consistency.
Added-Value Packages
We specialise in complete experiences—not just room-only bookings.
Long-Term Partnerships
Many of our hotel relationships span over 30 years.
Real Customer Support
Our UK-based team is available 7 days a week to support customers before, during, and after their stay.
Awards & Recognition
Our commitment to quality and service has been recognised within the industry.
- 2014 – Lanarkshire Business Excellence Award (Tourism)
We are also proud to be recognised by industry partners and organisations such as VisitScotland, reflecting our continued contribution to Scottish and UK tourism.
Today and Beyond
Today, myhotelbreak continues to grow as a leading UK hotel breaks specialist, combining:
- A strong heritage in hospitality
- A modern, digital-first approach
- A passionate and experienced team
- A commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences
While much has changed since 1996, our core values remain the same:
Trust. Quality. Value. Relationships.
A Timeline of Our Journey
1996 – Founded as Classic Scotland in the Highlands
1997 – First website launched
2001 – Relocated to Strathaven
2003 – Rebranded to Classic Britain and launched bookable website
2011 – First TV advertising campaign
2014 – Lanarkshire Business Excellence Award (Tourism)
2015 – Rebranded to My Hotel Break
2020 – Mark Simpson becomes Managing Director
2020–2022 – Successfully navigated COVID-19 and achieved strong recovery growth
Today – A leading UK hotel break specialist with nationwide reach
Our People
At the heart of myhotelbreak is our team.
Experienced, passionate, and committed to delivering the best possible service, our people are the reason customers return to us time and time again.
We are not just a website—we are a team that genuinely cares about creating memorable travel experiences.