British Hospitality Association (BHA) Scotland has appointed a new chair.

Debbie Taylor, the managing director of The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St Andrews, has taken over the post from Gavin Ellis, proprietor of the Knockomie Hotel in Forres.

“I am delighted to be taking over as chair of the BHA in Scotland at such an exciting time,” she said. “Scotland is a world-class destination and I am very confident that if we pull together as a united industry with a visionary approach, we can achieve our ambition to grow tourism in Scotland.”

Bob Cotton, chief executive of the BHA, said: “We are delighted that such a distinguished hotelier has been elected to chair BHA Scotland and to lead the industry at such a time of change and development.”

Taylor’s first official engagement as chair will be at the Scotland United ‘Invest in Scottish Tourism’ conference at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium tomorrow (5 March).