The breaks are being organised by the University of Bolton so its vice-chancellor Professor George Holmes ( pictured ) can give pep talks . A struggling university is paying up to £100,000 to send all 700 of its staff for stays at a luxury hotel . The breaks in the Lake District are being organised by the University of Bolton so its controversial vice-chancellor can give pep talks . Professor George Holmes , who was recently lent almost £1million by the university so he could move house , owns a private yacht which is moored less than ten miles from the hotel . The four-star Lakeside Hotel and Spa on Windermere is 70 miles from campus and usually costs about £220 a night for a room with a view of the lake . The university says the one-night ‘ working residential ’ trips , for which it pays all the travel , food and accommodation costs , are an ‘ informative ’ and ‘ valuable ’ way to discuss strategic aims . It has organised 20 breaks as part of its staff development programme . The first was in September and the last will be in May . Professor Holmes , a former adviser to Labour whose yacht is moored at a marina on Windermere , addresses each group ‘ engaging directly in dialogue in respect of the strategy ’ . The university , which in 2013 was ranked worst in the country in two guides , said feedback from employees had so far been positive . But according to Times Higher Education , a source at the university said staff were ‘ amazed ’ by the scheme because it ‘ must cost a fortune ’ . A university spokesman said it ‘ considers this an appropriate developmental investment in staff to underpin the growing strength of the university ’ . The spokesman said it was part of a multi-million-pound investment in teaching and learning infrastructure , adding : ‘ For the avoidance of doubt , the yacht belongs to the vice-chancellor personally and is operated , maintained and moored at the vice-chancellor ’ s own expense . ‘ The yacht is not university property and has no relevance to the university ’ s current staff development programme taking place at the Lakeside Hotel. ’ The four-star Lakeside Hotel and Spa ( pictured ) on Windermere is 70 miles from campus and usually costs about £220 a night for a room with a view of the lake . Last month , it was revealed that the University of Bolton gave Professor Holmes a two-year £960,000 loan to buy a house nearer the campus without him having to sell his home in Wakefield , West Yorkshire . The move was to save him a 100-mile round-trip , allowing the 53-year-old , who took up his post in 2006 , to ‘ play a greater role ’ in the university and the town . Professor Holmes , who in 2013 was paid a £47,200 bonus on top of his £198,200 salary , bought an imposing Edwardian detached house , described by estate agents as a sublime example of the Arts and Crafts movement . It is understood the £920,000 property acts as both his personal home and a space to host VIP dinners and events connected with the university . The loan , at a 3.25 per cent interest rate , is due to be paid back once the Wakefield home is sold .
The breaks in Lake District are being organised by the University of Bolton . Trip is arranged so staff can hear pep talk from Professor George Holmes . Vice-chancellor owns a yacht moored less than ten miles from the hotel . He was recently lent nearly £1million by university so he could move house . University describes breaks as 'an appropriate developmental investment '