Cyber security should be a core business priority of the Scottish hospitality and tourism sector, not an ‘IT afterthought’.
With hospitality businesses increasingly reliant on digital booking systems, customer data, payment platforms and connected technologies, industry training charity HIT Scotland has warned that the sector is now a prime target for cyber criminals.
HIT Scotland’s Dave Allen said: “For Scotland’s hospitality and tourism sector, trust is everything.
“Our guests trust us with their data, their payments and their experiences. In today’s environment, safeguarding that trust demands strong cyber governance at the very top of the organisation.
“At HIT Scotland, we are committed to developing forward-thinking leaders who understand that cyber resilience is no longer a ‘nice to have’,” said Allen, who is responsible for the delivery of the organisation’s executive and leadership programmes.
“It is an essential business tool, and it should be considered by senior leaders as a core part of their business operation.”
To that end, HIT Scotland has teamed up with the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland to deliver a new executive-level programme designed specifically to educate industry leaders on the subject.
The first of these ‘The Code of Trust: Executive Strategy for Cybersecurity & Fraud Intelligence’ leadership programmes will take place on 30th April 2026 at the Fingal Hotel in Leith, Edinburgh.
Designed specifically for CEOs, directors, non-executive directors and senior business leaders, this ‘intensive one-day experience’ aims to equip senior decision-makers with the strategic insight, governance frameworks and practical confidence required to manage cyber risk and protect their organisation in an ‘increasingly volatile digital landscape’.
The course is being developed and delivered by experienced cyber and leadership professional Jude McCorry, who will use expert-led discussion, real-world case studies and scenario-based exercises to help industry leaders explore how their behaviour, culture and communication can directly influence resilience to cyber threats.
As chief executive officer of the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland for six years, McCorry has supported businesses through data breaches and ransom attacks, and now wants to help individuals and organisations prepare to anticipate risks and mitigate effectively against them.
“Cyber security is no longer the sole domain of IT departments; it is a fundamental boardroom issue,” said McCorry.
“Every organisation, regardless of size or sector, is now operating in an environment where cyber risk is real business risk.
“For hospitality and tourism leaders, the stakes are particularly high,” she warned. “Customer trust, brand reputation and operational continuity can all be severely impacted by a single incident and unfortunately, all it takes is one person within the business to open a phishing email to trigger a company-wide data breach.
“It’s often well-known global companies which dominate the headlines when it comes to cyber security however it’s not just big attacks – the majority of breaches are within small to medium sized firms so we’re always keen to raise awareness.
“The Code of Trust programme we’ve designed in partnership with HIT Scotland provides senior leaders the clarity, frameworks and confidence they need to lead from the front, embedding cyber resilience into governance, culture and strategic decision-making,” she explained.
“This isn’t about technical deep-dives – it’s about equipping executives to ask the right questions, make informed decisions and protect their organisations in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.”
The programme is part of HIT Scotland’s 2026 programme series. Applications are now open with a deadline of 6th April 2026; places are limited.
