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6.
July
2016.
PRESS RELEASE : Atholl Palace Pitlochry Commissions Hotel in Minecraft

Good Afternoon,

Following is information on a new and exciting development taking place at Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry.  The hotel has recently commissioned a Minecraft construction which will be launched at an open day on 17th July.  

I was hoping you might find it an interesting interview for BBC radio Scotland and I'd be happy to organise either Immersive Minds (the developers) or one of the marketing team to chat about it.

You can contact me on 07983505716 or 01738 636888.

Kind regards,

Nicki Martin

The Palace goes Virtual

Scotland's only hotel museum is bringing the past to life for a new generation by introducing a map and heritage resource of their hotel using Minecraft.

The Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry, Highland Perthshire, is believed to be the first hotel in the world to have commissioned a build using the popular Minecraft game to engage and inspire players in their architectural heritage and social history.

Nine storeys of Scottish Baronial architecture have been crafted into a map using thousands of Minecraft blocks to spin the tales of the hotel's guests, residents, workers and owners from throughout the ages.

Players will be able to follow the map, building a path to the past as they explore a virtual hotel, floor by floor, era by era in the fun and engaging mini-game.

This resource will be launched at an upcoming open day on the 17th of July when the hotel's visitor attraction museum will reopen following a £30,000 refurbishment.

Expert Minecrafters, novices and complete beginners to the world of Minecraft are invited to the free, family event where they will be the first in line to discover and explore the history of this prestigious and historical Scottish hotel on the new modern day digital platform.

Graeme Strachan ,General Manager of the Atholl Palace commented ,"If like me you have children you will be in no doubt that Minecraft has swept the globe and captured their imagination. Kids everywhere are tapping into this amazing game so when we realised we could rebuild our hotel as a Minecraft map, we jumped at the chance."

He continued, "Our business is about creating a home away from home and what better way to bring it into the 20th century but by welcoming children with what they love. We're delighted that we now have something truly unique in Pitlochry that will attract visitors from a far to our museum and hotel."

Immersive Minds, a technology inspired education consultancy were tasked with creating the Atholl Palace in Minecraft bricks with topographical accuracy based on the original 1873 designs of Perth architect Andrew Heiton Jr. 

As well as being packed with curriculum learning such as history, numeracy, literacy and science, the mini game will allow players to see behind doors and fully explore the history of The Atholl Palace Hotel throughout the ages.

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NOTES FOR PRESS

Event Information

Crafting The Past: Minecraft At The Museum

Sunday 17th July, 1pm to 4pm.
Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry, PH16 5LX
Cost: FREE

The fun, educational minecraft event is part of the larger Victorian Summer Open Day which celebrates the reopening of their recently refurbished Atholl Palace Museum.

Digital interaction meets real life when, among the virtual blocks of the hotel's past, players can be on the look-out for the caches of treasures whose co-ordinates will lead them to very real, modern day geocaches hidden around the grounds and building of the hotel and its museum.

http://www.athollpalace.com/museum-atholl-palace

Atholl Palace Museum

This is the only museum in Scotland to celebrate the social history of a hotel and in 2005 when it first opened it was the first museum of its kind in the UK.

Over 2016 it has undergone an extensive £30,000 investment refurbishment to enhance the visitor experience including creating a small rail carriage and crafting a map of the hotel and a mini game within Minecraft.

Room settings and tactile exhibits will be packed full of historical insights and anecdotes, perfect for minds both old and young to explore.

The museum charts the history of the hotel from when it opened as a Hydropathic establishment in 1878 through to its reopening after World War II and beyond. There are tales of bankruptcy, colourful entrepreneurs, unusual and torturous spa treatments, and evacuees turning hotel to school. As it unfolds, it delves behind the scenes of life for Victorian hotel servants including maids, porters, chauffeurs and gardeners, many of whom lived in the servants' quarters where the museum stands.

Minecraft

Minecraft has over 100 million players worldwide and it has been widely accepted that through experimenting and working together, kids begin to develop skills in creative thinking, math and geometry, and even geology. To complete large tasks, they need to plan a strategy, define goals and work together to execute and see the mission through.

The success of Minecraft is largely due to its open gameplay; children don't play just one mission, they choose from many activities.

Immersive Minds

Immersive Minds is an education consultancy with a difference. We specialise in the use of technology and games-based learning as tools for learning in both curriculum and soft skills development with learners of all ages.

Nicola Martin

The Red String Agency | Small City, Big Personality

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