Scottish Tourism Alliance Announces New Chair

The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) has confirmed the appointment of Rebecca Brooks as the new Chair of the organisation, succeeding Stephen Leckie who has recently been appointed Chair of VisitScotland. This transition marks a new chapter for the STA and the broader Scottish tourism industry.

Rebecca Brooks, Managing Director of Abbey UK, and a Director/Owner of the Abbey Group brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having been a leading figure in the Scottish tourism industry for more than two decades. She has also served as Vice Chair of the STA since October 2022.

A graduate of St Andrews University, graduating in Modern History, Rebecca has worked in international inbound tourism since 2001.

Rebecca has been a non-executive Director of the Scottish Tourism Alliance since 2010, served as a non-executive Director on the VisitScotland board from 2015-2022 and was recently appointed as Chair of UKinbound. Rebecca is also a former chair of the Scottish Destination Management Association. She sat on the Scottish Government appointed Tourism Recovery Taskforce in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and is a current member of the UK Tourism Industry Council. In 2018 and 2020 she was voted one of Scotland’s Top 100 Women in Tourism.

Marc Crothall, CEO of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, expressed his enthusiasm for the appointment, stating:

“The STA Board and team are delighted to welcome Rebecca Brooks as the new Chair of the Scottish Tourism Alliance. Rebecca’s experience and position within the Scottish tourism landscape positions her perfectly to lead the STA into its next phase.”

“We acknowledge the exceptional leadership of Stephen Leckie, under whose guidance the organisation has seen significant milestones, including the launch of two national tourism strategies. Stephen’s legacy is one of visionary leadership, boundless energy, and passion for Scottish tourism. His leadership inspires so many within our sector, and while we bid him farewell, we look forward to the fresh perspectives and strength of leadership that Rebecca will bring to the table.”

Reflecting on her appointment, Rebecca Brooks said:

“I am thrilled to be stepping into the role of Chair of the STA, having worked so closely with Stephen Leckie over many years and remain committed to driving forward the organisation’s mission to influence government policy to enable Scotland’s tourism industry to flourish and reach its full growth potential.”

“Our focus will continue to be on deepening collaboration between private sectors, public bodies and governments to ensure Scotland can become a world leader in 21^st century tourism and galvanising the industry as the leading representative body for Scotland’s tourism businesses.”

“The foundation laid so passionately and expertly by Stephen, our talented CEO and board provides a robust platform for us to build upon and I look forward to contributing to the next chapter of STA.”

Previous Chair of the STA and the new Chair of VisitScotland, Stephen Leckie said:

“It has truly been a real privilege to serve as the Chair of the STA during a period of profound growth and challenges for our industry. Handing over the reins to Rebecca marks a fresh and exciting chapter for the STA and Scottish tourism as a whole. Rebecca’s insight, expertise and unwavering dedication to our industry make her the ideal leader to guide the STA into its next era.”

“Her leadership qualities, vision, and deep-rooted understanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing Scottish tourism today are exceptional. I move on to my new role as Chair of VisitScotland with gratitude for the experiences and achievements we’ve shared at the STA and immense optimism for the future under Rebecca’s capable stewardship.”