ASSC/SHG Hospitality Hustings Highlights Urgent Calls for Tax, Regulatory and Planning Reform
The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) and the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG) held a joint hospitality hustings in Glasgow. The sold-out event brought together key voices from across Scotland’s hospitality and tourism sectors at a critical time for industry.
The evening began with a lively ‘fireside chat’, featuring Fiona Campbell, ASSC’s CEO, Stephen Montgomery, SHG’s Director and five hospitality and self-catering business operators:
- Mario Gizzi, Di Maggio’s Restaurant Group
- Paul Phillips, ASSC Board Member and self-catering operator
- Michael Bergson, Buck’s Bar Group
- Giovanna Eusebi, Eusebi Deli & Restaurant
- Susan Young, DRAM Magazine and Hotel Scotland
This session provided a real-time “temperature check” of the sector, highlighting the challenges, pressures, and opportunities currently facing businesses on the ground.
Following this, the event moved onto a political panel discussion featuring the following candidates:
- Ivan McKee, SNP
- Murdo Fraser, Scottish Conservatives
- Daniel Johnson, Scottish Labour
- Jamie Greene, Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Kim Schmulian, Reform UK Scotland
- The Scottish Greens declined the invitation to participate
The discussion highlighted a sector under sustained pressure, with repeated themes around taxation, regulation, workforce challenges, and the cumulative impact of policy decisions on self-catering and wider hospitality businesses. There was broad recognition across the panel of hospitality’s economic and social importance, alongside constructive discussion on how best to support recovery and growth.
Key themes from the debate
Business rates and taxation reform
Business rates emerged as the dominant issue of the evening. There was cross-party recognition that the current system requires reform, with repeated calls for greater transparency, consistency, and clarity. Several candidates supported either a pause in implementation or faster progress on change, withsignificant focus on the ongoing McGill Review and its potential implications.
Frustration was clearly expressed from the floor at the pace of change, with operators questioning why meaningful reform appears delayed. The issue of valuation disparities between sectors, including self-catering, was also raised directly, reinforcing concerns about fairness and methodology.
Regulation, licensing and planning
Regulation was raised in discussion, particularly in relation to short-term let licensing and planning controls affecting the self-catering sector. Operators highlighted the cumulative impact of multiple regulatory changes and the challenges this creates for businesses trying to operate and invest with confidence.
Several candidates acknowledged these concerns, with some suggesting that aspects of the current framework may be overly complex or have gone further than originally intended. There were also calls for greater consistency in how regulations are applied across local authorities, alongside a clearer evidence base to underpin policy decisions.
There was a shared recognition of the need to ensure regulation is proportionate, balanced and supports, rather than hinders, sustainable business activity.
Visitor economy and economic growth
All parties recognised the importance of tourism to Scotland’s economy and international reputation. While views differed on policy tools such as visitor levies and taxation levels, there was shared acknowledgement that Scotland must remain competitive in attracting visitors and investment.
Some candidates argued for lowering costs to stimulate growth, while others emphasised partnership working and economic stability as the foundation for long-term success.
Workforce and sector sustainability
Workforce challenges were also highlighted, including recruitment, retention, and the need to improve perceptions of hospitality as a long-term career. Proposals included stronger support for apprenticeships and skills development to strengthen the talent pipeline across the sector.
ASSC interventions and sector voice
The ASSC played a prominent role in ensuring the self-catering sector was represented throughout the discussion.
Key interventions included:
- Highlighting the impact of business rates on self-catering operators and the need for meaningful inclusion in any review process equivalent to the McGill framework
- Challenging assumptions around valuation and sector classification
- Providing evidence on the limited impact of self-catering on housing supply
- Raising concerns about the cumulative impact of regulatory measures, including licensing and planning controls
ASSC representatives also emphasised that current measures risk acting as short-term fixes rather than addressing underlying structural challenges facing the sector.
The hustings demonstrated clear political recognition of tourism and hospitality’s economic and social importance, alongside a constructive and engaged discussion on how best to support recovery, sustainability, and growth.
While there is broad agreement that reform is needed – particularly in relation to business rates – there remains a gap between the urgency expressed by industry and the pace and complexity of policy delivery.
For the ASSC and its members, the key takeaway is that self-catering is firmly part of the national policy conversation. Continued engagement will be essential to ensure that future reforms are evidence-based, proportionate, and support long-term economic sustainability across the sector.
🎥 Watch a full debrief from Fiona Campbell MBE (ASSC) and Stephen Montgomery (SHG).