Legal requirements to wear face coverings in hospitality and other public settings will continue until at least early April given the current spike in Covid case numbers, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced today.
She said, ““Given current case numbers, and the desirability of getting those back under control quickly, the wearing of face masks will stay in place for at least another two weeks.”
However remaining legal requirements for businesses and service providers to collect customer details for contact tracing, and to have regard to and take reasonable measures set out in Covid guidance, will end as planned on Monday 21 March.
Responding to the First Minister’s statement UKHospitality Scotland’s Executive Director, Leon Thompson, said, “Hospitality businesses will be pleased that the collection of customer details will end as planned next Monday, 21 March.
“However, the extension of the compulsory wearing of face coverings when entering, exiting, and moving around in venues will cause disappointment for many business owners, workers and customers who were looking forward to the end of this most visible of restrictions.
“As well as the symbolic significance of face coverings, they continue to create practical problems for hospitality workers – particularly in relation to communication and providing that welcoming smile that guests missed for too long.
“With no evidence provided today that masks are making a difference in combatting the spread of covid in Scotland, businesses will hope for better news ahead of the Scottish Parliament’s Easter recess.”
The First Minister also confirmed that people without COVID-19 symptoms will no longer be asked to take regular lateral flow tests tests from 18 April. The change forms part of the Test and Protect Transition Plan, which sets out how testing will become more targeted, with the aim of reducing serious harm from COVID-19.
The changes to Test and Protect mean that from 18 April:
most people without symptoms will no longer be asked to take COVID-19 tests
free lateral flow devices (LFDs) for the purposes of twice weekly routine testing will no longer be available for the general population given the changing advice, but will continue to be free for any purpose for which testing continues to be advised – for clinical care, for health and social care workers and for people visiting vulnerable individuals in care homes or hospitals
until the end of April, people with symptoms should still isolate and get a PCR test
vaccinated close contacts of someone with COVID-19 should continue to test daily for seven days with LFDs
People who have symptoms of COVID-19 will still be able to book PCR tests in the usual way until 30 April. From that date, test sites will close and people with symptoms will no longer be advised that they need to seek a test. The public health advice for people who feel unwell will be to stay at home until they feel better, to reduce the risk of infecting other people.
The First Minister said, “Today marks a further decisive shift away from controlling Covid through legal restrictions, and towards relying instead on advice and guidance. But please remember, especially since case numbers are so high, that this guidance and advice remains important.”
UKHospitality Scotland and the Scottish Hospitality Group are urging the Scottish Government to follow the example of the UK Government and end trading barriers for hospitality and provide a clear plan on living with Covid when First Minister Nicola Sturgeon updates Parliament later today.
She is expected to reveal what the Scottish Government plans are regarding COVID passports in night-time hospitality settings, the compulsory wearing of face coverings, and use of the test and protect app. Ms Sturgeon will also set out the Scottish Government’s Strategic Framework, presenting a pathway to managing Covid in Scotland in the medium to long-term.
UKHospitality Scotland Executive Director, Leon Thompson said, “Hospitality was hit first, hardest and longest by restrictions. In Scotland alone, it has racked-up an estimated £12bn in lost sales over the last two years. UKHospitality Scotland is again calling on the Scottish Government to commit to measures in the Strategic Framework, that will help the sector rebuild and play its full role in the country’s social and economic recovery and renewal.
“It is vital that our businesses, which employed 285,000 people prior to the pandemic, be given the space and support they need. To achieve this, the Scottish Government must give clear and balanced health messaging and trust venues to keep their staff and customers safe. This will help the public make their own decisions on visiting and socialising in hospitality venues.
Stephen Montgomery, spokesman for the Scottish Hospitality Group said, “Hospitality needs a lifeline and today the First Minister must take the first step in giving that lifeline by moving regulative restrictions into guidance as a minimum, and doing away completely with Covid Certification in a hospitality setting.
“In April we will see the return of VAT to 20%, rates return, and NI rising, all on top of spiralling utility costs. It is time to put trust the public, who after two years are well versed in where they feel safe going, and hospitality is without doubt one of the safest places to socialise. The First Minister must put trust in the public, and businesses, and allow us all to take a further step forward into the world of normality before the financial pandemic hits in April.”
Leon Thomson added, “Full trading for hospitality is essential, but the need for government support remains. UKHospitality is campaigning for the UK Government to retain VAT at 12.5% permanently and we also call on the Scottish Government to extend the 50% relief on business rates to hospitality for at least a further three months. This move will help offset some of the losses incurred by businesses through messaging and restrictions introduced over Christmas and New Year.”
“Our businesses have extremely limited cash reserves, record levels of debt and are struggling with rising costs across the board. For the sector to emerge from the pandemic in a position to fully play its role in the wider economic recovery of the country, it needs a more stable and predictable operating environment as well as further support. The Strategic Framework must deliver that.”
The Scottish Government finally reduced the rules on self-isolation yesterday. The move follows the UK Government’s relaxation of quarantine rules before Christmas and sees the self-isolation period moving from 10 days to 7.
The First Minister also revealed that close and household contacts who have received three vaccine doses will not be required to self-isolate if they test negative using a LFT for seven days after being contacted. While anyone who is symptomatic and has tested positive for COVID using a LFT must book a PCR test. Otherwise, asymptomatic individuals testing positive with an LFT will no longer be required to book a PCR test but must self-isolate and fill out contact tracing forms.
The changes came into force at midnight.
Stephen Montgomery, spokesperson for the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) commented, “The announcement yesterday from the First Minister to bring Scotland in line with the rest of the UK with regards to self isolation is a positive step for our sector especially after the devastation of the past 4 weeks.
He continued, “After missing out on what should have been a busy December month to see us through the quiet months of January February and March, we would expect that the remaining restrictions placed on us will be lifted by 17th January.
“Hospitality is at a crucial point as we head towards the return of rates, VAT at 20% and utility increases and this has to be acknowledged by the Scottish Government. The requirement for exit strategy from restrictions is now a necessity, not an option.”
UKHospitality Scotland’s Executive Director, Leon Thompson, said, “The reduction from 10 to seven days for self-isolation will be welcomed by the Scottish hospitality businesses that are able to trade at reasonable levels and thus require greater numbers of their team.”
However the First Minister also revealed that the rules around physical distancing and table service for businesses serving alcohol were likely to remain in place until Monday 17 January.
Thompson commented, “The announcement leaves the future of jobs and livelihoods hanging in the balance.
“Christmas and Hogmanay were a write-off for many of our businesses. The ongoing uncertainty on how, or indeed if, sporting and business events can take place over coming weeks and months is now sapping business and consumer confidence further. If the uncertainty around restrictions continues, Easter bookings and trade will suffer, too, as holidaymakers from Scotland and the rest of the UK decide to travel elsewhere.
“Financial support for hospitality is yet to reach struggling businesses – even when it does, it will help with some immediate costs but won’t save the struggling hospitality venues that so desperately need to trade at full capacity. Above all, those businesses need clarity on when restrictions will be lifted and recognition from the Scottish Government that future restrictions on hospitality are not the way out of the current phase of the pandemic.”
The First Minister said during her statement that a revised strategic framework would be published in the coming weeks and revealed that a further £55m had been released for emergency funding – £28m for taxi and private hire providers, £19m for services such as hairdressers and beauticians, £5m for the sports sector and £3m for tourism.
Rugby fans may also get to seen Scotland host England at Murrayfield on 5th February. The current restrictions ban outside events with over 500 people but the First Minister did say she wanted to be cheering them on herself at Murrayfield. She said,, “I certainly do very firmly hope that these matches will go ahead – and will go ahead with crowds of supporters.”
Meanwhile the Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that pre-departure testing will no longer be required from the 7th January for travellers returning to the UK.
“A budget of choices,” said Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, as she chose to deliver another blow to hospitality operators. This afternoon (9th December) she revealed that the Scottish Government’s 2022-2023 Budget did not include an extension to rates relief beyond the first three months of the next financial year for hospitality and retail premises despite trade organisations lobbying for a longer extension.
She said in her address to Parliament that the rates relief will continue at 50% for the first three months of the 2022 financial year and is to be capped at £27,500 per ratepayer. Although businesses with a Rateable Value of less than £15,000 would pay nothing for the next 12 months.”
Stephen Montgomery, spokesperson for the Scottish Hospitality Group said, “Today’s budget is a bitter blow for the hospitality sector in Scotland. Throughout the last 20 months every sector of the economy has suffered, but none more so than the hospitality sector. From lockdowns to curfews, restricted hours, and music bans, we have endured it all, and today we got little or no thanks for anything we have suffered.
“The inclusion of a £27,500 per ratepayer cap, is a devastating blow to larger businesses, all of which will have retained staff right the way through this pandemic, and today have received no thanks for it. For many businesses within the hospitality sector of all sizes, this will be the end of the road after fighting for survival for over 20 months.
“At a time when we are seeing cancellations coming in during a month that is traditionally where hospitality would have seen 30% of its annual turnover come in during normal times, and after Christmas being more or less cancelled last year, there will be many many businesses, there will be many within the sector feeling very disheartened and let down.”
Marc Crothall, Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance said, “Today’s budget announcement sends a clear and stark message to Scotland’s tourism industry that the short-term extension of business rates relief is effectively the one last lifeline of support available. The cliff edge the Finance Secretary refers to will only be delayed until June 2022 when the impact will be felt hard by businesses across all sectors within our industry.
“Whilst smaller businesses with a rateable value of less than £15,000 will be relieved to know that they are exempt from paying rates, businesses that fall into the higher bracket, especially larger businesses will be underwhelmed, disappointed and find themselves with even tougher decisions ahead, particularly in this current climate of uncertainty. Many businesses are already expressing disappointment and shock that the future relief doesn’t match what has been announced by the UK Government.
“Given the impact of the pandemic on Scotland’s tourism industry over the past two years, we are of the strong view that today’s budget announcement does not go anywhere near far enough in delivering the level of meaningful, long-term or indeed short-term support required by our tourism businesses to recover. It will certainly not enable our industry to deliver the successful business activity, entrepreneurship and innovation Ms Forbes refers to as part of a ‘wellbeing economy’.
“Tourism is a major economic contributor to Scotland’s public purse; it will be key to moving our country through recovery to a much stronger position. Many of our businesses continue to operate in survival mode, cash reserves have dwindled and the weeks ahead of the ‘golden season’ which would have been an opportunity for businesses to recoup lost income have certainly lost their sheen due to the arrival of the Omicron variant along with a degree of consumer uncertainty from a public health point of view.”
While UKHospitality Scotland, Executive Director Leon Thompson said, “The Scottish Budget has failed hospitality businesses across the country. It provides little hope to businesses at risk of financial free-fall as they face a much-reduced Christmas and New Year trading period due to concerns over the spread of omicron.
“The extension of business rate relief of 50% from April to June 2022 simply moves the financial pressures a little further down the line and does nothing to eliminate the very real challenges that our businesses face. With increased cancellations, many businesses face stark months ahead. Many had pinned their hopes on today’s budget statement and will now be facing very difficult choices. It’s a difficult juncture for both owners and their workers.
“Not only has the Scottish Government failed to listen to the pleas of our hard-pressed sector, but budget documents also reveal plans to revisit the introduction of a tourist tax. Businesses need support, not further measures that will limit the opportunity for recovery – whenever they might come.”
Ms Forbes defending her decision highlighted the fact that businesses in England started paying rates last July in Scotland while in Scotland businesses are still not paying rates. Although she did not mention the fact that in Scotland hospitality businesses pay far higher rates than the rest of the UK.
She said, “It has been a challenging Budget due to the continuing impact of the pandemic, and the uncertainty and worry that Covid poses for us all. This has been confounded by the UK Government’s decision to remove necessary Covid consequential funding at a time when we undeniably need to help our public services.
“This is a budget of choices… cannot deliver all of the resources our partners would have wanted. I believe we have made the right choices.”
Changes to the short term lets legislation announced by the Scottish Government last week will take tourism accommodation providers in Scotland “a step closer to the introduction of parity’ according to UKHospitality Scotland’s Executive Director Leon Thompson.
He goes on the say that “UKHospitality Scotland has consistently called for the introduction of licensing for short-term lets to achieve a level playing field. This is to ensure our members do not continue to be put at a financial and competitive disadvantaged by the expanding rental market.
“The changes set out by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, following a third consultation on licensing, demonstrates that the Scottish Government has genuinely listened to stakeholders on all sides of this conversation. UKHospitality Scotland looks forward to continuing to participate in the dialogue, as legislation moves to the Scottish Parliament and guidance around the scheme is developed by the industry working group.”
The new legislation aims to reduce public liability insurance requirements and remove overprovision powers.
UKHospitality has called for the Scottish government to relax planning restrictions on outdoor seating indefinitely ahead of it being reviewed in the coming weeks.
As a response to the pandemic, the Scottish government’s chief planner John McNairney encouraged local authorities to relax planning restrictions on pavement and outdoor seating to allow pubs, restaurants can cafes to have more seating in the open air.
UKHospitality Scotland said outdoor seating culture must be here to stay, as similar planning laws in England are set to be streamlined, cutting red tape for businesses, as part of a plan to support high street recovery.
Said UKHospitality Scotland executive director Leon Thompson, “Many businesses have invested in outdoor seating and the imaginative approaches demonstrated by businesses should be encouraged and supported, with planning relaxed or streamlined indefinitely. Outdoor areas also provide additional capacity for businesses that need to be given increased opportunities to trade as profitably as possible.
“Relaxation of the planning restrictions showed real pragmatism and responsiveness from the Scottish government and was applauded by businesses at the time. Let’s keep supporting our hospitality businesses as they seek to recover from 16 months of closure and restricted opening.”
Despite praising hospitality’s “sterling efforts” Nicola Sturgeon confirmed today that Scotland will move to Level 0 on 19th July but that social distancing outdoors would remain, and pubs, bars and restaurants must also shut their doors at midnight rather than follow local licensing rules.
Describing it as “not a complete and wholesale lifting of restrictions” but a “gradual approach” she said that closing hospitality venues at midnight must happen because hospitality is “a risky environment where people are less likely to follow rules” and that the measures “mitigate risk.”
A total of 15 people from the same number of households will be able to gather outdoors with a one-metre gap between each group, while inside hospitality venues, 10 adults from four households can meet, and there will be no need for customers to book a two-hour time slot.
Customers will still be asked to provide their contact details to support Test & Protect and will also be required to wear face coverings when not seated.
A maximum of 200 people will be able to attend weddings and funerals.
With regard to self-isolating she said that the blanket requirement for close contacts of those who test positive to self-isolate, will be removed from Monday, as long as they have had two doses of vaccine and take a PCR test.
She said that she still hoped Scotland could move beyond level zero from 9 August – the point at which the government aimed to scrap most legal restrictions.
Marc Crothall, CEO Scottish Tourism Alliance described the outdoor social distancing rule remaining as “disappointing”. He said, “It will be disappointing news today that the 1-metre distancing will remain outdoors for many of those businesses operating in the outdoor adventure and marine sector, especially as their counterparts south of the border are able to trade without this condition.
“There are understandably huge concerns across the industry in relation to the Scottish Government’s current self-isolation policy and the impact this is having on the ability for businesses to staff at required levels and in many cases, remain open. We are reassured by the Scottish Government’s commitment to removing the need for people to self-isolate if they are double vaccinated and come into close contact with a positive case.”
Leon Thompson, UKHospitality Scotland Executive Director, is calling for more financial support. He said, “Hospitality continues to trade in a very difficult environment which will not improve until all major restrictions are removed. Today we had hoped to hear something definite on this. Instead, businesses burdened with expensive short-term debt will continue to struggle, unable to break-even whilst ongoing and seemingly endless restrictions continue.
“Again, today’s announcement had nothing on financial support for Scotland’s hospitality businesses which are now set to fall further behind businesses in England. UKHospitality Scotland will continue to press the Scottish Government on this crucial point. A new package of support can make the difference between survival and closure for some businesses.”
She also expressed concerns about the uncertainty of long Covid, the fact the Delta variant was holding back NHS recovery and causing a backlog of non-coved care, and not being complacent about the number of young people getting the virus.
Nicola Sturgeon also reached out to those on the high clinical risk list – 13,000 of which haven’t had both doses of the vaccine – by telling them “we will not abandon you.”
As of 07:30 today, 3,941,571 people have received their first dose of the vaccine, an increase of 7,163 since yesterday, with 10,286 people received second doses of the vaccine yesterday, bringing the total number to 2,903,557.
The first minister said that the progress of the vaccination programme gives us “real hope” and that we are in the last stages of offering first doses to the adult population and confirmed that the vaccination programme is weakening the link between case numbers and severe acute illness.
The daily coronavirus figures show a further 2,529 people have tested positive for Covid-19, which is 11.5% of the tests carried out yesterday, bringing the total number of positive cases in Scotland to 318,566.
There are currently people 506 in hospital, 37 more than yesterday, and 41 people in intensive care, which is one more as yesterday, and there have been four further deaths reported, which brings the total deaths under the daily measurement to 7,761.
UKHospitality Scotland has demanded more meaningful levels of financial support for hospitality businesses by the Scottish government amid a delay in lifting restrictions further for much of the country while Scottish Hospitality Group spokesman Stephen Montgomery says that despite Glasgow’s move to level 2, nightclubs and music venues are still being left out in the cold financially.
First minister Nicola Surgeon announced yesterday that Glasgow will move to level 2 from level 3 this weekend while the majority of the islands will move from level 1 to level 0. But many parts of Scotland will not proceed to the next step of the country’s roadmap out of lockdown and remain at level 2.
UKHospitality Scotland executive director Leon Thompson (pictured) said, “The delay in moving 14 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities to level 1 from level 2 now begs the question of when they might be able to move – an answer is important if businesses are to best plan for survival. The hospitality sector remains fragile after more than 15 months of closure and severely disrupted trading.
“While the announcement provides progress for some, businesses need to hear the Scottish government will provide meaningful levels of financial support to help them continue to trade and safeguard the jobs of their employees.”
Scottish Hospitality Group spokesman Stephen Montgomery added, “It’s good news that businesses in Glasgow are being released from level 3. And wedding venues moving to level 1 will be able to host 100 guests. But it’s devastating news for the brides and grooms across the central belt who were counting on a change, and all the venues that will end up refunding thousands of pounds. None of this helps nightclubs and many music venues either, so we can’t forget that there are many in the sector still under extreme pressure
“The further reduction in hospitalised Covid admissions shows that the vaccination effort is working, so surely case numbers don’t matter if those people who do test positive remain fit and healthy. We don’t place restrictions on entire cities when it’s winter flu season, so why on earth are we doing it now? And how can businesses trust what the government is saying about the future when the objectives keep changing.
“We invite the First Minister and her cabinet colleagues to visit our premises and learn for themselves how damaging and distressing their approach is. She acknowledged today in the chamber that all their decisions have not been perfect. We can confirm from bitter experience how right she is. But it’s never too late to listen, learn and change.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has not moved Glasgow City from Level 3 to Level 2 and has said that the earliest the city will move down is next Saturday 5th June. However, this will not be confirmed until Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire and Clackmannahsire which she said had “low absolute numbers” will remain in Level 2 with the rest of the country moving to Level 1 on 7th June. This will be confirmed on Tuesday.
The First Minister explained that the Incident Management Unit felt it would be premature to move Glasgow out of Level 3 immediately while the situation was “still so fragile”. Citing the increase in the number of cases which she said was still “uncomfortably high.”
However, if incidents continue to stabilize and hospitalisations remain stable she would consider moving Glasgow to Level 2 next week. This would be just a week ahead of the planned Glasgow Green Fan Zone for the Euro’s which is planned for 11th June which would see 6,000 people a day at the Green for the entirety of the tournament.
Cases in Scotland have increased by more than a quarter in the past week. Today’s figure of 641 cases, was the highest number since 25 March with the new April 02 variant accounting for 50% or more of the daily cases. The current increases in cases are concentrated in the younger age group with Glasgow is now sitting at 146 positive tests per 100,000 people.
Glasgow has currently been under tight restrictions for 270 days.
Says Michael Bergson of Thundercat and Buck’s Bar, “I am absolutely disgusted. It is a really sad time for pubs in the city centre of Glasgow who have no outside areas or kitchen. They are the only businesses in the whole of the UK that are being to stay closed.
“It is astonishing that they still can’t tell us when they will be giving a green light to pubs opening, but they already given a green light to a 6,000 capacity fan zone at Glasgow Green on 11th June. But they still can’t give the green light to the Old Shipbank – a pub with a capacity of 50 with restrictions it makes no sense to me whatsoever.”
Stephen Montgomery, spokesperson for the Scottish Hospitality Group and owner of Townhead Hotel, Lockerbie commented, “All that’s going to happen is people will continue to travel outside Glasgow city centre, further spreading the virus. We already know that’s happening. So, if things are really that bad that there needs to be this continued lockdown, then this is a counter-productive move and makes no sense as far as the government’s policy is concerned. We firmly believe the approach based on case numbers is largely irrelevant now. It’s admissions and other hospital data that should be used and it’s great to see that those are remaining at a very low level. With the vaccine roll-out and all the preventative measures that the government has had us put in place, it should be possible to remove Glasgow from these unfair restrictions now. It is quite staggering to think that the plan for the fan zone at Glasgow Green is in full swing, but here we have a situation where Scottish Government thinks that keeping Glasgow City in level 3 and throwing hospitality businesses a pitiful £750 per week is acceptable.”
Leon Thompson, Executive Director at UKHospitality Scotland said, “Today’s news is a bitter blow for hospitality businesses. UKHospitality Scotland members in Glasgow are experiencing devasting financial burdens with owners, operators and workers struggling with the pressure of this ongoing situation. Waiting another week in the hope of good news will sap morale further, heaping more misery on businesses that have not been able to trade fully since last October.
“It is essential that the Scottish Government fully recognises the devastation being caused to Glasgow’s most important business sector and provides the necessary financial support to hospitality businesses, to avoid closures and job losses.”
Willie Macleod is stepping down after nearly ten years championing Scottish hospitality businesses, as Scotland’s Executive Director for BHA and then its successor UKHospitality. He is retiring from the role that cemented him as a respected hospitality sector stalwart among political and industry audiences alike.
Leon Thompson, succeeds Macleod and will take up the role on 4th May.
Thompson, who joins from VisitScotland, is a senior political communications specialist, and has led VisitScotland’s policy agenda since 2013. He has helped build influential networks among Ministers, MSPs, Cabinet Secretaries and key industry stakeholders. Thompson has been instrumental in positioning the body as one of Scotland’s premier tourism and hospitality advocates.
UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls thanked Macleod for his dedication to UKHospitality and Scotland’s hospitality and tourism sectors, and welcomed Leon to the UKHospitality team.
UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said, “I am delighted to welcome Leon to UKHospitality. Leon brings many years’ worth of expertise and a huge amount of political acumen working with policy-makers in Scotland. He knows the sector inside out and has done brilliant work in positioning Scotland as a world-class tourist destination. I know he will be unstinting in his efforts to ensure we remain the number one advocate of hospitality in Scotland.
“I would also like to thank Willie for his years of dedication to an industry he first worked in as a teenager. Willie is much-loved in the hospitality community and brought a welcome sense of continuity during UKHospitality’s first few years. His hard work has ensured that valuable hospitality businesses in Scottish communities have had a voice at the highest levels of Government.”
Leon Thompson said, “I am very much looking forward to joining UKHospitality, spearheading its work in Scotland and building upon Willie’s success. From my work at VisitScotland, I know that this sector is an immensely diverse and exciting one. I am looking forward to meeting UKH’s members and fighting to ensure the Governments in Holyrood and Westminster, and local authorities across Scotland work with us to get the best out of our businesses.”
UKHospitality Executive Director Willie Macleod said: “It has been a privilege and pleasure to champion Scotland’s fantastic hospitality sector for ten years during very challenging times – especially now as the industry is on the verge of re-opening and recovering from the ravages of COVID-19. This is a vigorous, hardworking and resilient sector that shows the best of Scottish ingenuity and generosity. It has evolved hugely in the time that I have been promoting its interests and we can proudly say it is genuinely world class.
“I would like to thank my colleagues and members of UKH for their professional and good-humoured support and a host of others – in sister trade bodies, the media, public agencies and government – who I have worked alongside in partnership and friendship with the shared goal of ensuring the sustainability of a fantastic industry that beats at the heart of Scotland’s economy.
Calum Ross, Chair of UKHospitality Scotland, said, “I thank Willie for the unfailing support he has shown the Scottish hospitality community. He has always been its most vocal and committed supporter and I look forward to seeing UKHospitality Scotland build upon his work.
“As a UKHospitality member based in Scotland, I am looking forward to working with Leon to ensure my business, and others like it, is given the support it needs to flourish.”
Thompson, who joins from VisitScotland, is a senior political communications specialist, and has led VisitScotland’s policy agenda since 2013. He has helped build influential networks among Ministers, MSPs, Cabinet Secretaries and key industry stakeholders. Thompson has been instrumental in positioning the body as one of Scotland’s premier tourism and hospitality advocates.