ASSC News

🤝 Don’t Forget to Visit Our Exhibitors There’ll be plenty happening beyond the main programme at the ASSC Regional Gathering next week. Our exhibitors will be there throughout the day, giving you the chance to discover more about the businesses, products and services supporting Scotland’s self-catering sector. From booking technology and insurance to property services, capital allowances and more, there’ll be plenty to explore. 🎟️ Book your place: assc.co.uk/event/assc-region… #ASSCFORTWILLIAM2026

⛰️ Supporting the local community at our Fort William Regional Gathering This November, the ASSC is proud to support Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team as our chosen community charity for the Fort William Regional Gathering. Based in Fort William, the entirely volunteer-led team responds to more than 150 call-outs each year, helping keep people safe in the mountains and surrounding areas. We'll be raising awareness of the incredible work its volunteers do throughout the day, and attendees will have the opportunity to make a donation to support the team. Join us at Highland Cinema on Wednesday 4th November for a day of discussion, industry insight and networking, while supporting a vital local service. 🎟️ A few tickets remain - Book your place: assc.co.uk/event/assc-region… Want to support the team? You can make a donation directly through the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team website: lochabermrt.co.uk/ #ASSCFORTWILLIAM2026 @LochaberMRT @FionaCampbell74

📢 East Lothian Visitor Levy: Further Scrutiny Agreed East Lothian Council has agreed further assessment and independent scrutiny of a potential visitor levy. No decision has been made on whether to proceed. The ASSC is calling for robust economic evidence, transparent investment plans and meaningful engagement with accommodation providers before any final decision. 🔗 Read more: assc.co.uk/news/east-lothian… @FionaCampbell74 @SaveSCScotland

📣 Important Survey: Short-Term Let Licensing Renewals, Planning Control Areas and NDR Have you recently renewed your short-term let licence, or are you currently going through the process? The ASSC wants to hear from self-catering operators across Scotland. Share your experiences of licensing renewals, NDR, Council Tax and Planning Control Areas to help inform our work advocating for fair, proportionate and workable regulation. 🗓️ Closes 8th November at midnight. 👉 Complete the survey: surveymonkey.com/r/NMVFB2D @FionaCampbell74 @SaveSCScotland @st_alliance @scothospgroup

People in the Highlands deserve a serious debate about housing – one based on facts. ASSC CEO Fiona Campbell has challenged claims that 60% of properties on Skye are short-term lets or holiday homes, after the figure was cited by Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer. “Mr Greer hasn’t shown his working as to where the 60% figure for Skye comes from.” We have repeatedly offered to sit down, examine the data and work constructively on short-term let policy. That offer remains open. Good policy must start with good evidence. inverness-courier.co.uk/news… @FionaCampbell74 @Ross_Greer @SaveSCScotland

“Scottish tourism businesses needed more breathing space than this Budget gives them.” Following today’s UK Budget, ASSC CEO Fiona Campbell MBE has expressed disappointment that calls to cut VAT for hospitality to 10% were ignored. With additional business rates relief confirmed in England, all eyes now turn to the Scottish Government’s Budget in December. Read our budget update 👇assc.co.uk/news/the-uk-gover… @FionaCampbell74 @st_alliance @SaveSCScotland

🤝 @ResNexus is sponsoring the hospitality at our upcoming Fort William Regional Gathering! ResNexus provides an all-in-one property management solution for accommodation businesses, with tools including online booking systems, OTA channel management and automated email marketing to help operators manage their businesses with ease As Hospitality Sponsor, ResNexus will also be exhibiting at the event, giving attendees the opportunity to meet the team, find out more about their solutions and discuss how they can support your business. Be sure to stop by and say hello to Clay! 📍 Join us on Wednesday 4th November at Highland Cinema for a day of discussion, networking and insights under the theme Meeting the Challenges, Seizing the Opportunities. 🎟️ Find out more and book your ticket: assc.co.uk/event/assc-region… #ASSCFORTWILLIAM2026 @FionaCampbell74 @SaveSCScotland

“There is nothing dignified about making someone travelling for cancer treatment find extra cash, fill in forms and wait to get their own money back. “And asking NHS Highland to reimburse a council levy is a bureaucratic merry-go-round." pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/pol… @FionaCampbell74 @SaveSCScotland @HighlandCouncil

📢 Join the Highland Visitor Levy Industry Forum Join Visit Inverness Loch Ness for the Highland Visitor Levy Industry Forum, immediately after the Regional Gathering on Wednesday 4th November. 📍 Highland Cinema, Fort William 🕞 3:30pm–5:30pm 🎟️ Free to attend Hear the latest industry perspectives on Highland Council’s proposed Visitor Levy, discuss key concerns and opportunities, and help shape the evidence informing the Council’s December decision. 👉 Register here: assc.co.uk/event/visitor-lev… Please note: This is a separate event from the ASSC Regional Gathering, so a separate registration is required. @visitiln @FionaCampbell74

Scotland's tourism agency axes a third of staff as income plunges by £7.7m “Tourism and events is one of the most inclusive, scalable and resilient sectors of the Scottish economy. Strong interest in Scotland as a destination, alongside growth in global travel, presents a clear opportunity to grow Scotland’s visitor economy in a way that benefits people and places across the country." heraldscotland.com/news/2667… @FionaCampbell74

"We do not have a problem, at least as regards self-catering, in East Lothian." eastlothiancourier.com/opini… @SaveSCScotland

🤝 A big thank you to Interhome for supporting our Fort William Regional Gathering as Regional Sponsor! With more than 60 years of experience, Interhome connects holiday home owners with guests from across the world, combining international reach with local expertise and on-the-ground support. We’re pleased to have Interhome’s support as we bring self-catering operators together for our final Regional Gathering of 2026, exploring the challenges facing the sector and the opportunities ahead. 🎟️ Interested in joining us? Find out more and book your ticket here: assc.co.uk/event/assc-region… #ASSCFORTWILLIAM2026

Scotland’s experience is making headlines in Mexico. ASSC Chief Executive Fiona Campbell MBE has reached the Mexican press with a stark warning on short-term rental regulation: “Don’t copy us.” The message? Regulation must be evidence-led, proportionate and focused on solving real problems - not creating new ones. Scotland’s experience is now serving as a warning internationally. heraldodemexico.com.mx/opini… @SaveSCScotland @FionaCampbell74

ASSC Calls for Fuller Assessment of Falkirk Visitor Levy Risks The ASSC is urging Falkirk Council to publish a fuller assessment of the potential impact of its proposed 5% Visitor Levy before deciding whether to proceed. Fiona Campbell MBE, ASSC Chief Executive, said: “We need councillors to understand what Falkirk could lose as well as what the Council might collect.” Self-catering supports an estimated £5.6 million in annual GVA and 190 jobs in Falkirk. 🔗 Read the full update and letter to councillors: assc.co.uk/news/assc-calls-f… @FionaCampbell74 @SaveSCScotland

The ASSC is calling for clarity over Fife Council’s proposed short-term let control area in St Andrews and the East Neuk, urging clear assurances for existing businesses ahead of discussions on 28th October. 🔗 Read more: assc.co.uk/news/assc-seeks-c… @FionaCampbell74 @SaveSCScotland

⚖️ ASSC Welcomes European Court Judgment on Short-Term Let Regulation A new European Court judgment examines the justification for short-term let restrictions, highlighting the importance of evidence-based decisions, local circumstances and clear safeguards for operators. The ASSC will assess its potential relevance to Scotland with our expert legal and policy advisers, including in relation to planning control areas and Mandatory Condition 13. The judgment does not automatically change Scottish requirements, but may offer useful insights for our ongoing work towards fair, proportionate regulation. 🔗 Read more: assc.co.uk/news/assc-welcome… @FionaCampbell74 @SaveSCScotland

ASSC Backs The Herald’s ‘Reset the Rates’ Campaign The ASSC is proud to support The Herald’s Reset the Rates campaign, calling for reform of Scotland’s non-domestic rates system to address rising costs and uncertainty for businesses. ASSC Chief Executive Fiona Campbell MBE said: “Self-caterers across Scotland opened their rates bills this year to increases they never saw coming, with many seeing their valuations more than double when nothing about their business had changed.” Fiona highlighted the need for a fairer system, adding: “A national assessor would end the lottery of where in Scotland you happen to operate, and protection against sudden, unaffordable jumps would let people plan ahead instead of wondering whether they can carry on.” The campaign calls for six key changes, including a fairer deal for hospitality and tourism accommodation, greater consistency in valuations and protection against sudden, unaffordable increases. 🔗 Read more about the campaign: assc.co.uk/news/assc-backs-t… @FionaCampbell74 @st_alliance @UKHofficial @scothospgroup

🌿 Our Resilient Heritage: Adapting Scottish Tourism to Climate Change 📅 Monday 26th October | 9.30am–3.30pm 📍 The Engine Shed, Stirling How can tourism businesses prepare for the impacts of climate change? Developed in collaboration with VisitScotland, this free practical workshop will explore climate risks, adaptation planning, funding opportunities and ways to build resilience for the future. A follow-up online session will take place on 18th November. 🎟️ Register here: assc.co.uk/event/our-resilie… @VisitScotNews

🌍 ASSC at SCALE Fest 2026 This weekend, ASSC Chief Executive Fiona Campbell MBE DUniv is in Barcelona representing Scotland’s self-catering sector at SCALE Fest 2026. On Saturday, Fiona will join international association colleagues for “Nobody’s Coming to Save Us: The Global Regulation Exchange”, a panel discussion exploring how the short-term rental sector can make its voice heard, influence decisions and help shape the future of the industry. 📍 World Trade Center, Barcelona 🔗 Find out more: assc.co.uk/event/scale-fest-… #SCALEFest #SelfCatering #ShortTermRentals @FionaCampbell74

Buell Hospitality Business Exchange | Dunblane 📅 Tuesday 27th October 2026 | 11am–6pm 📍 Apex Dunblane Hydro Hotel Independent hotel owners, operators, investors and senior hospitality leaders are invited to the Buell Hospitality Business Exchange for a day of practical insights, industry discussion and networking. The complimentary event will feature three expert-led presentations, opportunities to exchange ideas with fellow hospitality professionals, conversations with specialist business partners and a networking drinks reception. With a focus on real hospitality challenges and commercially relevant insights, it’s an opportunity to make valuable connections and explore fresh perspectives. 🎟️ Attendance is free for the intended hospitality audience, but advance registration is required and places are limited. Book your place: assc.co.uk/event/buell-hospi… @HMATaxUK