Member News: Scottish B&B Association 10th Anniversary – and UK BBA’s 20th
This year, STA member the Scottish B&B Association (SBBA) celebrates its 10th year, having been launched in November 2016 with a speech by the then Tourism Minister Fiona Hyslop MSP at the ‘Guest Scotland’ event in Edinburgh.
Meanwhile UK Bed & Breakfast Association, our sister trade body, reaches its first 20 years serving and representing our sector. On 29 April 2006, the first member signed up and paid their subscription.
SBBA founder & Chair David Weston reflects on these milestones: “When we started it was as ex-B&B owners ourselves, aiming to give a much-needed voice to the smallest tourism businesses. They hadn’t got a trade body to champion their sector – whose interests and challenges are not always the same as those of larger businesses or hotel groups, for instance.
“Our focus was on being their ‘voice’, issue by issue – and there have been plenty of those! We never gave a thought to being here a decade later. But here we are – time flies!”
Over that time, the SBBA has campaigned on levelling the regulatory framework with new online platforms, on Short-Term Lets Licensing, COVID support for B&Bs, unfair and anti-competitive practices by OTAs, excessive taxation of hospitality and tourism, accommodation taxes (“visitor levies”) and other issues which have burdened B&Bs and guesthouses across Scotland.
There have been some wins (and some awards), but a lot of frustrations. “It’s always difficult getting the balance right” comments David Weston, “between on the one hand engaging positively and constructively with Government – so that they listen to us – and on the other hand being honestly critical and arguing persuasively where policies are damaging to our members.
“The challenge is keeping the “ear” of Government while telling them what they don’t want to hear! We’re not here to make life easier for Ministers or officials – we’re here to give a voice to our members. But making that voice effective does mean establishing trust and credibility with Government.”
“We’ve been hugely touched and humbled by all the warm appreciative messages of support we’ve been receiving from our members as we approach our 10th year serving them.”
David added: “I’d also like to pay tribute to Marc Crothall and the whole team at the STA. We greatly value our membership, the STA’s tireless championing of our industry, and the collegiate way in which the many trade bodies within the STA’s umbrella work together on issues we have in common.”
“Here’s to the next 10, and 20 years, and beyond..!”
Fiona Hyslop MSP (then Tourism Minster) and David Weston at Guest Scotland in November 2006, when the minister gave a speech welcoming the formation of the Scottish Bed & Breakfast Association.
