ASSC Conference Speakers 2019

 

• Willie Cameron

• Director of Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards & Founding Director of the Cobbs Group
• Winner of The Johnstons of Elgin Silver Thistle Award 2019

Willie Cameron was the founding Director of The Cobbs Group of companies who have hotels / coffee shops and retail all in high amenity tourist areas and today, Willie is their Business Development Director.  Willie is also the owner of Loch Ness Marketing a media service company and is a sought after contributor on television and radio on tourism/food and drink of Scotland. He is on the board of the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards and sits on the National Council of Rural Advisers for The Scottish Government.  VisitScotland – Silver Thistle Award Winner 2019 for Services to Tourism. Willie is a well-known after dinner and conference speaker at both trade and charity events; is also known affectionately as “Mr Loch Ness” and is regarded as world authority on a certain elusive lady.

• Twitter: @mrlochness27

Linda Battison

Chair of Board of Director, Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers
Co-Owner Cologin Country Chalets and Lodges

Linda took over as Chair of ASSC following last year’s AGM. She had previously been Vice-Chair and Marketing Director. She is also a director of Oban & Lorn Tourism Alliance and a development agent for Argyll and the Isles Tourism Cooperative and an STGA freelance tour guide taking walking tours in Oban and in the Isle of Kerrera.

With her husband Jim she manages a self-catering Park in historic Lerags Glen, a few miles south of Oban. A busy work life and volunteering leaves little free time, but leisure pursuits include sailing and skiing with friends and family.

• Website: www.assc.co.uk / www.cologin.co.uk
• Twitter: @ASSCnews
• Facebook:  @asscscotland

Fiona Campbell

Chief Executive,  Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers

Fiona was appointed as the ASSC’s first Chief Executive in February 2015. She was charged with growing the Association, recruiting new Members, and ensuring that member benefits are as comprehensive and valuable as possible.

In an ever-changing tourism landscape and as more and more legislation, regulations and business expenses appear on the horizon, as well as the opportunities and challenges created by the collaborative economy, the ASSC finds itself increasingly politically engaged on a national and European level.

Fiona works with key industry groups and stakeholders to support the representation that puts the ASSC at the forefront of the Scottish Tourism industry.

Fiona has operated two holiday homes overlooking Loch Long, Argyll for the last 17 years.

• Website:  www.assc.co.uk
• Twitter:  @ASSCnews
• Facebook: @asscscotland

Simon Lehmann

Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder, A J L Consultancy LLC

A world leading expert and opinion leader in the on-line travel industry.   The digital tornado has hardly changed any industry as dramatic as the travel industry.  How we dream about travelling, research and get inspired and how we book, experience and share our experiences.  Travelling has become a privilege to our society and with the continuing globalization, available to an ever-growing global population.  Who does not have the dream to explore this incredible planet and share his experiences with everyone?

Simon has been in the global business since he started his career in the logistics and supply chain industry, later moved in to the world of airlines and ground handling, before he ended up in the travel industry.  His main area of focus has been the private accommodation and vacation rental space, where he served as CEO of one of the world’s largest vacation rental company as well as on the board of HomeAway.  He holds a BBA from the GSBA, Zurich with the focus of sales and marketing.  Before he founded his consulting company he served as the CEO of Phocuswright Inc in New York, which is the world’s most respected on-line travel research and conference company.

In addition to his corporate career, he became a serial angel investor in various on-line travel startups with the main emphasis of short-term rental and online travel.  Furthermore, he sits on a number of boards in various industries. Inspiring and leading teams, developing strategies and executing them are some of his passions, which he started to translate in to public speaking. His wealth of know-how allows him to wrap his speaking content with all the experiences he has made during his career.

Simon is a highly regarded, vibrant, emotional and authentic public speaker, who performs at all kind of different digital travel, vacation rental and network conferences around the world.

• Website:  www.ajl-consulting.com
• Twitter:  @slehmann1
• Facebook:  simon.lehmann.3386

Karen Mullins

Regional Director for UK and Ireland, HomeAway

Karen is HomeAway’s Regional Director for the UK and Ireland, having been at the company for 6 years. She brings to the retail organisation her strong experience of the business both on the demand and supply side. Karen started out at HomeAway as UK Marketing Director, moving into Marketing roles for EMEA. In her new role, she’s currently leading Global Marketing Acquisition Strategy in Growth Marketing.

Karen has previously held roles in Marketing, Product UX and Retail, all in the UK and Global travel space. Prior to HomeAway, she spent eight years at Lastminute.com where her final role was User Experience Director. And she’s actually been with the Expedia Group for much longer than 6 years, as she was the 3rd employee when she got her first role after university at Travelocity back in 2001!

Says Karen: “As well as working travel, I love to travel. Whilst Koh Chang, Thailand, is my favourite holiday destination, as a Bristolian, I have a real connection with the South West. I used to go to Cornwall every year with family and friends and love my yearly Glastonbury trips. For a quiet weekend, my fiancé Justin and I head to our family’s HomeAway cottage in Aldeburgh, which officially has the best fish and chips I’ve found in the UK.

“I’m also lucky to have family to visit in two of our top holiday destinations – Mallorca and Cornwall – so have an affinity with our holidaymakers.”

• Website: www.homeaway.co.uk
• Twitter: @homeawayUK

Merilee Karr

Chairperson,  UK Short Term Accommodation Association (STAA);  Founder and CEO, UnderTheDoormat

Merilee founded UnderTheDoormat in July 2014 after a decade-long successful career at oil and gas giant Shell.  Her vision for UnderTheDoormat is to enable modern travellers to enjoy the comfort of a home and the professional service of a hotel across major cities globally.

As the elected Chair for industry body, STAA, she is passionate about helping professionalize and grow the industry in the most responsible way.  She has been profiled in London’s Evening Standard and regularly speaks at events, including the recent Rotterdam School of Management Summit. Merilee has worked with BEIS and HMRC on sharing economy policies to build regulation in the industry.

• Website: www.ukstaa.org / www.https://underthedoormat.com
• Twitter: @uk_staa / @UnderDoormat

Richard Davison

Digital Solutions Manager, Johnston Carmichael

Manager and Operational Lead of our Digital Solutions team, Richard works across our full portfolio of clients providing guidance on emerging technology in the accounting software and cloud-based applications sector.

 

• Website: https://johnstoncarmichael.com/about-us/our-team/richard-davison
• Twitter: @RDavison_JCCA

Alan Cadden

Director, Cavetta Consulting Limited

Since they were formed in 2015 Cavetta Consulting has identified over £75 million of fixtures within property that has produced additional savings of at least £15 million. This is tax relief that accountants cannot easily find. Cavetta has made this high-end tax advice more accessible to taxpayers in Scotland. The company provides its services throughout the UK for clients directly or for accountants through its white labelling service. The firm has collectively over 30 years of experience at its disposal and will only accept a commission if it can make its clients financially better off.

• Website: www.cavettaconsulting.co.uk
• Twitter: @CavettaLtd
• Facebook:  @cavettaconsulting

Brian Wright

Director, FBD Consultancy, Accounts & Tax Limited

Brian is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Chartered Management Accountant. He has worked and advised in numerous private and public sector organisations. He has been advising small businesses, trusts, charities, community interest companies and amateur clubs in many areas of business since 1991. Areas of expertise include business structures, business growth, funding, accounts, tax and systems.

In 2003, Brian founded his own business growth, accounting and tax advisory business, FBD Consultancy Accounts & Tax Ltd with the clear remit of helping small business owners achieve more success, gain greater clarity and understanding within their businesses and gain greater peace of mind.

With a special interest in the world of property letting, property management, serviced accommodation and property development, Brian is delighted to be speaking at today’s conference, where he hopes to spark a few ideas and light some fires within the attendees.

• Website: www.fbdconsultancy.co.uk
• Twitter:  @FBD_Consultancy

Fiona Hyslop, MSP

The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Scottish Government

Fiona was born in Ayrshire in 1964 and with her family spent her early years in England before returning to Ayrshire. She graduated from Glasgow University with an MA (Hons) in Economic History and Sociology. Fiona completed a post graduate Diploma in Industrial Administration at the Scottish College of Textiles, before moving to Edinburgh to join the financial services company Standard Life where she held various positions in sales and marketing, latterly as Brand Development Manager.

Elected in the first session of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 she has been returned as the Constituency MSP for Linlithgow since 2011. She was appointed as Cabinet Secretary of Education and Lifelong Learning in 2007 and was responsible for abolishing backend university tuition fees. She has had responsibility for culture and external affairs since 2009 and is currently the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs.

• Website: https://www.gov.scot/
• Twitter:  @FionaHyslop

James A Clark

Station Manager, Deputy Head of Fire Safety, Enforcement, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service

• James has been in the fire service since 1996 and in enforcement for over 5 years. James is currently Station Manager in the Prevention and Protection Directorate based in Newbridge, Edinburgh. His role is to provide support to local areas and to assist the management team in the Directorate with policy review and all other aspects of enforcement. James currently leads for UFAS Reduction, chairs the Champions sub-group and attends the Fire Safety Advisors Group with the NHS.
• Website: www.firescotland.gov.uk/
• Twitter: @fire_scot

Mark O’Neill

Head of Energy Services, DM Hall LLP

Associate and Head of Energy Services at DM Hall, Mark is a Chartered Surveyor with over 20 years’ experience and has been involved in the assessment of energy efficiency of commercial property for over 10 years. A recognised expert in this field Mark is a Level 5 accredited NDEA, Section 63 Energy Advisor and Display Energy Certificate assessor, as well as a commercial property valuer.  Having assessed 1000s of commercial property, of all shapes and sizes, he has accumulated a wealth of experience and is well placed to provide in-depth advice on the regulatory aspects of energy assessment of property, as well as practical insights as how properties can have their energy efficiency enhanced.

DM Hall are a long standing feature of the Scottish property sector having been established in 1897. Through its long and distinguished history, DM Hall has adapted through the years to ensure the needs of its clients are met. At the core of DM Hall services is quality, laced with professional knowledge and insight. From a Home Report, to a commercial valuation, to specialist advice, such as energy assessments, experience and understanding of property and the property market ensures that DM Hall provides its clients with much more than a written report. DM Hall is truly multi-disciplined, offering a full range of property services from an extensive network of offices across Scotland.

• Website:  www.dmall.co.uk
• Twitter: @dmhallsurveyors
• Facebook: @dmhallsurveyors

Andrea Nicholas

Managing Director, Green Tourism

Co-founder of the Green Tourism Certification Programme during the past 21 years Andrea has assisted in development of green networks and certification programmes throughout the UK and in Europe, New Zealand, Sweden, Canada and Africa. The Green Tourism Programme started in 1997 and has expanded to cover all of the UK & Ireland with over 2000 members. In the past 2 years Andrea has driven the development of a digital platform for Sustainable Management, GreenCheck, which is being used for Green Tourism and adapted for other industry sectors such as the NHS.

• Website:  www.green-tourism.co.uk
• Twitter:  @greentourismuk
• Facebook:  @green tourism

Rebecca Ricketts

Senior Project Manager, Circular Glasgow, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce

A founding member of Circular Glasgow, Rebecca manages the communications with the aim of informing and engaging change-makers. Her focus is on connecting businesses with one another, strengthening the local SME community and capturing new ideas that will accelerate their transition to new circular models.

With a background in business development, marketing and PR, Rebecca believes the role of storing telling and sharing practical applications of circular models will be crucial in supporting Glasgow’s ambition of positioning itself as a leading circular city.

• Website: https://circularglasgow.com/
• Twitter: @CircularGlasgow
• Facebook: @circularglasgow

Janie Neumann

Industry Development Manager (Sustainability), VisitScotland

• Janie Neumann is the Industry Development Manager at VisitScotland, with a focus on Sustainability and Food and Drink. She plays a key role in VisitScotland’s internal and external sustainability activity and is leading on industry advice and support on sustainable practices, a well as encouraging the use and promotion of quality Scottish food and drink. She has 20 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry, working to continuously improve and support the delivery of sustainable tourism, which benefits businesses, provides enriching quality experiences for visitors, enhances the communities it operates in and protects the natural and cultural heritage it depends on.
• Website: www.visitscotland.com
• Twitter: @jne_GB / @VisitScotland
• Facebook: @visitscotland

Gery McLaughlin

Short Term Lets Delivery Group, Scottish Government

Gery heads up the team supporting the Short-Term Lets Delivery Group, established in response to the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Panel on the Collaborative Economy, based in the More Homes Division of the Scottish Government’s Housing and Social Justice Directorate. The Short-Term Lets Delivery Group comprises officials drawn from the full range of areas within Government with an interest in the issues, including Housing, Tourism, Planning, Licensing, Community Empowerment and Taxation.

• Website: https://consult.gov.scot/housing-services-policy-unit/short-term-lets/
• Twitter: @scotgov

Marc Crothall

Chief Executive Officer, The Scottish Tourism Alliance
Appointed as the first CEO of the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) Marc has been at its helm since its inception in 2012. He is responsible for the day to day operations and leadership of the organisation which is the overarching tourism industry trade body and acknowledged as being “The lead representative voice of Scotland’s Tourism Industry”..
The STA has under its umbrella of membership circa 70% of the c15000 tourism facing business that operate length and breadth of the country. The organisation are lead strategic guardians and co-ordinators of Scotland’s national tourism Strategy Tourism Scotland 2020 (TS2020). The STA are also the joint lead with sister trade body Scotland Food and Drink of Scotland’s first Food Tourism Strategy.

Marc is a member of the Tourism Leadership Group (TLG) that has shaped and now steers Tourism Scotland 2020 (TS2020), He chairs the strategy sub steering group that is charged with leading the development of the national tourism strategy action plan beyond TS2020. He is also the industry representative on the Scottish Government’s High- Level Tourism Working Group (TWG) chaired by the Cabinet Secretary Fiona Hyslop MSP. Marc also chairs the STA Industry Council. He is a member of the UK Government’s Scottish Business Task Force an advisory board member of Springboard Scotland, and a board member of Interface.

Prior to taking up his post with the STA Marc spent 35+ years working in the front line of the Hospitality, Event, Sport & Leisure industries across the globe for both large high profile multinational organisations such as Gilbey’s (South Africa), Sheraton Hotels, Compass Group, The Tussauds Group, Whitbread, David Lloyd Leisure and some leading medium and small rural business’ too.

He believes wholeheartedly that “Tourism is Everyone’s Business” and that providing great experiences, investing in people, technology and service quality are the essential ingredients to making Scotland’s visitor economy thrive and prosper in the way it does.

His passion is rugby and he is a lover of all things Scottish, especially his Glaswegian wife, his five Scottish born children 28yrs to twins of 11 and the nation’s food and drink. Although not born and educated in Scotland his family ancestry traces back though Clan Sinclair and despite his many years spent abroad he has lived, breathed and spent most of his working life in Scotland!

• Website: scottishtourismalliance.co.uk
• Twitter: @st_alliance / @MCrothall
• Facebook: @stalliance

Rachael Hamilton MSP

Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire Constituency 

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Tourism, Scottish Parliament

 

Rachael Hamilton was first elected to the Scottish Parliament in 2016 and was appointed the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture and Tourism. She then went on to win a by-election in 2017 to become the Member for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire.

Rachael has years of experience in the hospitality industry and was a strong voice for the short term let sector during the passage of the Planning (Scotland) Bill.

• Website: https://www.rachaelhamilton.co.uk/
• Twitter: @Rachael2win

Adam McVey

Council Leader, City of Edinburgh Council

Adam has a background in economics and Law and has represented Leith since 2012 and been Leader of Edinburgh Council since 2017, having previously served as Transport and environment Convenor for three years. Has served on a range of boards in the city since being elected to the council including a recycling organisation, youth centres and creative charities. Before politics he worked for a leading social investment charity and a human rights organisation.

• Twitter: @adamrmcvey

Louise Dickins

Managing Director, Dickins Edinburgh Ltd

Louise Dickins has been running her Edinburgh agency, Dickins, since 1998. Across those 21 years, Louise has experienced at first hand the seismic changes to our industry and remains positive about the future. As well as being a hands on Managing Director, Louise is Mum to two energetic boys and a Director of The Yard Scotland.

 

• Website: www.dickins.co.uk
• Twitter:  @dickins.edinburgh

Fiona Campbell

Chief Executive, Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers

• Details as above

 

 

More information to follow

*Programme, Speakers and Panel subject to change

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