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Join Us for the first ASSC Regional Gathering of 2026!📅 Date: Wednesday 18th March 2026
⏰ Time: 1:15 pm – 5:00 pm
📍 Location: Easterbrook Halls, Dumfries
🔗 View the full programme: https://guide.touchstay.com/guest/bHUv5EYR9qxKs/
🔗 Book Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/assc-regional-gathering-dumfries-tickets-1980549796757?aff=oddtdtcreator
Tickets:
ASSC Members – Two free tickets per membership (use your exclusive member promo code)
Non-Members/Additional tickets – £25 + booking fee
The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) will open its 2026 programme of Regional Gatherings in Dumfries on 18th March, bringing self-caterers together from across the South of Scotland and further afield, for an afternoon of insight, connection and inspiration.
Regional Gatherings are a cornerstone of the ASSC’s commitment to ensuring members have meaningful opportunities to connect with the ASSC team, engage with fellow operators, and hear directly from expert voices on the issues shaping Scotland’s self-catering sector. Each event combines informed discussion, practical insight and networking, alongside access to a range of exhibitors offering products and services relevant to today’s self-caterers.
At a time when public discussion around self-catering is too often dominated by negative headlines, this event will focus on the power of collective storytelling to change perceptions and highlight the sector’s positive contribution to Scotland’s visitor economy.
Across two panel discussions, speakers will explore how self-caterers can take greater ownership of their story, champion the value they bring to local communities, and communicate in ways that resonate with visitors, partners and decision-makers alike.
What to Expect:
✔️ Networking Opportunities – Connect with fellow self-catering operators, industry experts, and ASSC partners.
✔️ Exhibitor Showcase – Explore services and solutions designed to support self-catering businesses.
✔️ Expert-Led Panels & Presentations – Gain valuable insights and take away practical tools for resilience and growth.
✔️ Q&A : Your opportunity to ask questions
Key Sessions at the Event:
💬 State of the Nation Update delivered by Fiona Campbell MBE, setting the scene for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
💬 Panel Discussion 1: Shaping Our Shared Story – The Importance of Storytelling
Hosted by Fiona MacConnacher, Booking.com
This discussion brings together perspectives from a visitor attraction, a local operator and a marketing professional to explore how Scotland’s self-catering sector can move beyond simple marketing messages towards storytelling rooted in sustainability, real visitor insight and lived local experience.
At its heart, this session is about changing the narrative and positioning self-catering as a positive, responsible and integral part of Scotland’s tourism landscape.
💬 Panel Discussion 2: A Collective Vision
Hosted by Fiona Campbell MBE, ASSC
This strategic panel brings together national leadership, sector expertise and local economic development to explore how partnership working can strengthen regional tourism and self-catering.
This first Regional Gathering of 2026 marks an important moment for the ASSC and its members, bringing the sector together, strengthening connections, and taking confident steps towards reshaping how self-catering is seen, valued and understood.
Why Attend?
Understand the policies and regulations currently facing Scottish tourism.
Discover actionable steps to become a more responsible and competitive self-catering operator.
Build stronger networks with peers, sector leaders, and suppliers.
Leave with clear, practical takeaways to strengthen your business and prepare for the future.
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Event Venue
Easterbrook Hall, Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, DG1 4, United Kingdom
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
