A fresh cross section of hospitality industry experts has been recruited to serve on the board of the Scottish Tourism Alliance.
The STA – described as the ‘overarching industry leadership body and voice for Scotland’s tourism and hospitality industry’ – today (Monday 28 April) revealed the eight business leaders joining it as directors.
They are:
Fiona MacConnacher – head of public affairs UK & Ireland, Booking.com;
Jane McFadzean – senior director, global sustainability, Trip.com Group;
Emma Simpson – group people director, Gleneagles & Estelle;
Rob Wicks – managing director, P&J Live;
Geoff Ellis – CEO, DF Concerts & Events;
Stephen McGowan – partner and head of licensing (Scotland), TLT Solicitors;
Ian Stokes – COO, House of Gods Hotels;
Martyn Wilson- head of commercial, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Commenting on the announcement, Scottish Tourism Alliance chair, Rebecca Brooks, said: “We are delighted to welcome eight new Board Directors of such calibre and industry standing to complement our current, committed Board.
“We have recruited a strong cross section of industry experts ensuring that we have achieved the balance of Senior Executive, Non-Executive, Owner, and Operator director experience in our selection.
“As Chair I am confident this will stand the organisation in good stead in taking the STA to the next level as we continue to advocate for our members,” said Brooks.
“The STA Board has always been a cohort of the willing, dedicated, and passionate. We believe in recruiting for the next phase of our industry representation, we have distilled these attributes, and I look forward to our next chapter.”
STA CEO, Marc Crothall MBE, added: “The STA has a strong vision to make tourism everyone’s business and today’s appointments follow a recruitment process which attracted candidates of the highest calibre.
“We have leaders with knowledge and experience in critically important areas including sustainability, licensing, major events, and the nighttime economy. Some of the most important businesses in the country are represented.
“We had an overwhelming response to our recruitment process, which we undertook with the support of Odgers Berndtson, with more than three hundred expressions of interest in the opportunity,” he added.
“The quality and volume of applicants is testament to the work of all who have been part of the STA, helping build the organisation’s reputation as the leading voice for the industry, over the past thirteen years.
“The role of the Scottish Tourism Alliance has never been more important, both in supporting the industry as it faces new challenges, but also in influencing national and local government to ensure the best possible conditions exist for businesses to flourish.
“We now have a substantial alliance in the STA that will do all we can to deliver for our sector and the Scottish and UK economies.”
Following an ‘onboarding’ period of shadowing existing and outgoing members of the board, the eight new directors will officially be appointed at the STA’s Annual General Meeting on Thursday 2nd October 2025, at the Social Hub in Glasgow.
