ASSC Scotland

22/10/2026

🌄 Changing the Narrative: Scotland’s Story, Our Shared Opportunity

How do we collectively tell a more positive and compelling story about tourism in Scotland?

Our final panel of the day will bring together voices from tourism, food and drink, and the West Highland business community to explore how we can better demonstrate the value tourism brings to local economies and communities.

The discussion will explore:

🤝 Collaboration across sectors

📣 Telling a more positive story about tourism

🏡 The contribution of self-catering to Scotland’s visitor economy

🌍 Showcasing what makes Scotland distinctive

💼 Demonstrating tourism’s value to local economies and communities

Meet the panellists:

🎤 Fiona Richmond, Head of Regional Food, Scotland Food & Drink

🎤 Frazer Coupland, CEO, West Highland Chamber of Commerce

🎤 Russell Fraser, Managing Director, Loch Ness Hub & Travel and Chair of Scottish Community Tourism (SCOTO)

The session will be chaired by Fiona MacConnacher, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Historic Houses and Vice Chair of the Scottish Tourism Alliance.

🎟️ Find out more and book your place: https://www.assc.co.uk/event/assc-regional-gathering-fort-william/



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21/10/2026

📣 ASSC Publishes Open Letter to Scottish Greens Calling for Short-Term Let Regulatory Reform

The ASSC has published an open letter to the Scottish Green Party, calling for a collaborative approach to resolving ongoing issues with Scotland’s short-term let regulatory framework.

The letter highlights the uncertainty facing licensed businesses due to inconsistent planning decisions and calls for clearer, fairer regulation, including a dedicated planning category for self-catering.

The ASSC has also requested a meeting with the Scottish Greens to discuss a practical way forward and help resolve the ongoing impasse between the City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Government.

📄 Read the open letter and full press release: https://www.assc.co.uk/news/assc-publishes-open-letter-to-scottish-greens-calling-for-short-term-let-regulatory-reform

ASSC Publishes Open Letter to Scottish Greens Calling for Short-Term Let Regulatory Reform

21/10/2026

📣 Fiona Campbell Calls for Clarity on Self-Catering Regulation

ASSC Chief Executive Fiona Campbell appeared on Reporting Scotland on BBC News at 7pm last night to discuss the ongoing challenges facing self-catering businesses in Edinburgh, including the relationship between short-term let licensing and planning permission.

Speaking about the current system, Fiona said:

💬 “We're not afraid of regulation at all in any way, shape, or form. However, it has to work and it has to be fit for purpose.”

She highlighted the need for “clarity, consistency, and certainty” for professional operators, explaining that licensing and planning serve two distinct purposes and should operate separately.

Fiona also called for a more constructive approach to resolving the issues facing the sector, with a system that supports responsible businesses while addressing the concerns of local residents.

🎥 Watch the interview before it expires at 7pm tonight. Fiona’s interview begins at approximately 12 minutes into the recording: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m003397s/reporting-scotland-news-at-seven-20102026

20/10/2026

📊 What Is the Data Telling Us?

Good decisions start with good information.

Our afternoon programme will explore the latest trends and insights shaping the self-catering market, with a particular focus on the Highlands.

Chris Baxter, Head of Commercial at SuperControl, will lead the session on behalf of Key Data, sharing the latest market insights and what they mean for operators.

The session will explore what the data tells us about:

📈 Demand
📅 Booking behaviour
🏡 Performance
📍 The Highland market

And, importantly, how operators can use these insights to make better-informed decisions.

🎟️ Find out more and book your place: https://www.assc.co.uk/event/assc-regional-gathering-fort-william/



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20/10/2026

Fiona Campbell MBE, Chief Executive of the ASSC, has joined a wide range of influential business leaders and industry organisations in supporting The Herald’s calls for business rates reform in Scotland.

High-profile Scottish chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, pub operators and other business owners have joined the country’s leading trade organisations in backing Reset The Rates, a campaign calling for six major changes to Scotland’s business rates system.

Read more here:

Business leaders, trade bodies and hospitality operators have joined The Herald's Reset The Rates campaign calling for major reform of Scotland's business rates system.

20/10/2026

Business rates reform: The Herald launches Reset the Rates campaign

"For many Scottish business owners, the arrival of a new rates bill has become a moment to dread.

Hotels, pubs, restaurants and tourist accommodation providers have reported sharp and unexpected increases in costs following the latest revaluation of non-domestic property in Scotland, leaving many scrambling to find thousands of pounds extra every month to meet their bills."

Read more here:

Business leaders across Scotland have joined The Herald's Reset the Rates campaign, backing six reforms to create a fairer, simpler and more predictable business rates system

20/10/2026

Fiona Campbell, Chief Executive of the ASSC, was on BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast this morning discussing a reported loophole in the law that is allowing some operators to continue operating short-term lets without planning permission.

While the ASSC agrees that this uncertainty must be resolved, Fiona believes the term “loophole” does not adequately describe the issue.

The ASSC wants this fixed and will continue to ask the Scottish Government for clarity, consistency, certainty and a fair route to compliance. A new Use Class would achieve that.

🎧 Listen back from 2:21 to 2:30 in the programme:

News from across Scotland and the world, plus sport, weather and big name interviews.

20/10/2026

The impact of short-term lets on local communities in Scotland was discussed this morning on BBC Radio Scotland Mornings with Connie McLaughlin, from 9.03am to 9.30am.

Fiona Campbell MBE, Chief Executive of the ASSC, joined the discussion to share her perspective on the topic.

🎧 Listen back to the session here:

Listen live to Radio Scotland on BBC Sounds

17/10/2026

📢 Upcoming ASSC Talk - Licensing Renewals: A Practical Guide to Preparing with Confidence

With the majority of Scotland’s first-issued short-term let licences due for renewal over the next 12 months, now is the time to get prepared.

Join the ASSC and STL Solutions on Thursday, 19th November, 11am–12pm, for a practical webinar covering:

🔹 When and how to renew your licence, including the risks of late or incomplete applications
🔹 New or changing licensing requirements
🔹 Planning implications within Control Areas
🔹 Compliance checks and legal responsibilities
🔹 Practical steps to minimise risks and prepare with confidence

🎟️ Free for ASSC members using the member promo code, with non-members also welcome.

Book Your Place: https://www.assc.co.uk/event/licensing-renewals-a-practical-guide-to-preparing-with-confidence/

STL Solutions

16/10/2026

🎤 Meet Angus MacDonald OBE MP at the ASSC Regional Gathering

We’re pleased to welcome Angus MacDonald OBE MP to our upcoming Regional Gathering in Fort William, where he’ll share his perspective on the Highlands, its communities and the importance of a strong and sustainable visitor economy.

Angus is the MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire and has deep roots in the Highlands, having grown up at The Clachaig Inn in Glencoe. With a background in entrepreneurship across several sectors, he now owns the Highland Bookshop and Highland Cinema in Fort William.

Join us to hear from Angus and a range of speakers and panellists exploring the challenges and opportunities facing Scotland’s self-catering sector and wider tourism industry.

🎟️ Find out more and book your place: https://www.assc.co.uk/event/assc-regional-gathering-fort-william/



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