Read more:“The hospitality industry continues to face a very challenging economic environment," said Colin Wilkinson, managing director of the SLTA. And it made clear that the outlook for the industry is not positive, with 72% of outlets expecting economic decline in 2026. The SLTA survey comes as concerns over forthcoming increases in business rates reach fever pitch in the hospitality sector. The Scottish Government has commissioned the Gill Review to look at the methodology employed to calculate bills for hospitality outlets. Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison said last month that work on the review was continuing "apace".

Source: The Herald February 04, 2026 12:03 UTC