INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE
Big Ideas. Big Discussions. Real Impact.
Event Details and Key Links
Event programme
Here is a digital version of the brochure for our Industry Leadership Summit
Guest list
Event sponsors
Thanks again to our fabulous event sponsors and delivery partners for our Industry Leadership Summit!
Welcome to the Journey to Excellence
As Scotland’s hospitality and tourism sectors navigate the evolving economic, structural, and human challenges of 2026, HIT Scotland is bringing together some of our industry’s most influential leaders for a dedicated day of forward-looking strategy, high-level networking, and practical solutions.
Hosted at the iconic Crossbasket Castle, and made possible through the visionary support of our founding partner The Crerar Family Trust, this exclusive summit bypasses surface-level management theory. Instead, it focuses on peer-to-peer collaboration, delivering an actionable roadmap designed to protect operating margins, empower teams, and elevate business culture.
Date: Thursday, 19th November 2026
Timings: 08:00 Registration / Event closes at 16:30
Location: Crossbasket Castle, High Blantyre, Glasgow
Delegate Fee: £295 per person (Classed as a charitable donation to HIT Scotland)
Audience: Delegate registration is restricted to senior leadership roles only
What to Expect: The Three Core Pathways
To ensure dynamic dialogue and active participation, delegates will be divided into three intimate cohorts of 50. Throughout the day, you will rotate through three concurrent, 80-minute interactive workshop sessions led by our specialist delivery partners:
Track 1: The Future of Workforce Design
(Facilitated by Gary Crawford & Rebecca Hastings, Owendale Advisory)
Move beyond recruitment firefighting. Discover how to intentionally design an employment deal that retains key talent, balances Gen Z motivators with industry veterans, and uses AI and algorithmic scheduling to strip away administrative burnout.
Track 2: The Value Paradox
(Facilitated by Victoria Taylor & Phil Rumbol)
Overcome the pressure of rising costs and guest price sensitivity. Learn how to transition from operational manager to experience architect, using distinct brand identity, storytelling, and premium guest journey design to command higher margins.
Track 3: Culture by Design, Not Default
(Facilitated by The Culture Builders)
Culture is a key commercial driver. Uncover how to build inclusive, psychologically safe, and high-performing environments that survive under operational stress—moving your organisation from compliance to genuine commitment.
Keynote & Prospectus Launch
The summit concludes with a headline keynote address from former RAF Fighter Pilot and leadership expert Sarah Furness, who will share actionable insights on decision-making, resilience, and operational excellence under high stakes.
Following the keynote, HIT Scotland will officially launch the 2027 Executive & Leadership Programme Prospectus, giving attendees early access to our upcoming executive development cohorts.
Speakers
Gary Crawford
Founder & Chief Advisor, Owendale Advisory
Gary is an AI transformation advisor with extensive experience guiding Boards and C-suites through strategic, operational, and cultural shifts.
He has advised some of the world's leading organisations on aligning AI with business priorities to build future-ready, AI-enhanced enterprises.
Gary regularly speaks at leadership and industry events on the intersection of strategy, technology, and design.
Rebecca Hastings
Rebecca Hastings advises CEOs and boards on AI strategy, transformation and leadership, helping organisations turn AI’s potential into measurable business results. As a Partner at Owendale Advisory, she leads people and change, helping clients understand where AI can add value, prioritise the right opportunities and build the talent, leadership and organisational capabilities needed to deliver.
For hospitality leaders, Rebecca brings a practical, people-first perspective on how AI can support teams, improve productivity and enhance the guest experience, while preserving the human connection at the heart of great hospitality.
Victoria Taylor
Executive Experience Design & Development Consultant
Delivering Leadership Modules In High Impact, High Value Experience Creation, For organisations, leaders and individuals. Victoria creates impact across hospitality & tourism, attractions, cultural destinations and luxury product & service experience brands by shaping leadership, teams and cultures to become high-value, high-impact experience driven thinkers and doers; carefully balancing human centred values and design with commercially driven objectives.
Victoria consults, designs and develops experiences and delivers the education it takes for organisations to become thriving experience design led businesses to teams around the world, with the objective of becoming "World Class" in experience delivery.
Victoria is trusted by executives and leaders in experience, Globally and Nationally across Scotland and the United Kingdom to design and develop high-value, high-impact experiences and to drive experience design led cultures.
She provides advisory for client executive boards, leading tourism bodies and organisations and serves as a non-executive Board Director at ASVA: Association Of Scottish Visitor Attractions, on its Board of Directors.
Owen Cook
Head of Programmes.
Owen is based in Glasgow but works with a broad range of organisations across the globe, including Sony, the BBC and Selfridges – developing and delivering innovative programmes and coaching to leadership cohorts that are facing significant challenges.
His portfolio ranges across tech start ups, utilities companies, nonprofits and the performing arts.
Owen also advises boards in their role overseeing and governing public and third sector organisations. He is also co-author of the best-selling “Bank of Me” business book range.
Jane Sparrow
Founder, Author and Culture Expert
Jane is a business culture, performance and wellbeing expert, providing support to a whole host of businesses around the world including OVO Energy, Dyson and WestJet, to create and sustain high performing teams and cultures.
She is also the Co-founder of The Culture Builders, a three times published author, expert facilitator, MBA programme contributor and a highly respected thought leader.
Jane is passionate about enabling others to perform at their best to achieve both organisational and personal goals, to live more productive, healthier and happier lives in cultures that become more progressive.
Michael Pheasant
Senior Consultant, The Culture Builders
Michael is an experienced facilitator and coach passionate about helping leaders, teams, and organisations thrive through meaningful conversations. His background includes leading high-impact initiatives across the healthcare sector in the UK and internationally, specialising in workforce development, global health system strengthening, and public health.
Today, Michael works across sectors to deliver transformational learning experiences. By combining deep diagnostics with evidence-based frameworks, he empowers his clients to thrive in their work while creating positive change in the world around them.
Phil Rumbol
NED and Board Advisor & Coach
Phil Rumbol is a proven business leader and coach with a strong track record of driving growth and capability building in brand-led businesses; delivering superior financial results by building underlying demand, developing performance focused cultures, and spearheading innovation.
He has a broad range of experience from start ups to multinationals; including Chairman of an international leadership development organisation, CEO of Bahlsen (German-based International biscuit business), co-founding and selling a business, and Exec Level Marketing leadership for some of the world’s most iconic brands like Cadbury, Heineken and Stella Artois.
He has in depth Marketing and FMCG experience especially Sweet Snacks (Bahlsen/Cadbury/Kraft) and Beer/Alcohol (Inbev/Interbrew/Whitbread), and advisory experience in a broad range of categories including Mobility (Uber), Retail, Loyalty (Avios), Gaming, Healthcare and Hospitality. He is also Chairman of The Marketing Academy.