Scotland’s hospitality and tourism businesses are being urged to treat cyber security as a business priority rather than a back-office IT issue, as HIT Scotland partners with the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland to launch a new leadership programme for senior industry figures.
The executive-level course, The Code of Trust: Executive Strategy for Cybersecurity & Fraud Intelligence, is aimed at CEOs, directors, non-executive directors and other senior decision-makers across the sector. It will take place on 30 April 2026 at Fingal Hotel in Edinburgh, with applications open until 6 April.
The programme comes as hospitality and tourism operators become increasingly reliant on digital booking systems, payment platforms, customer data and connected technology, leaving businesses more exposed to cyber crime. Despite that, cyber security is still too often viewed as a technical matter rather than a core business risk.
Developed with the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland, the one-day course is designed to give senior leaders the strategic insight, governance tools and confidence needed to strengthen resilience and respond effectively to threats.
It will be delivered by Jude McCorry, former chief executive of the Cyber and Fraud Centre – Scotland, who spent six years supporting organisations dealing with data breaches and ransomware attacks.
Through expert-led discussion, case studies and scenario-based exercises, participants will explore how leadership, culture and communication shape cyber resilience.
Jude McCorry said, “Cyber security is no longer the sole domain of IT departments. It is a boardroom issue and a business-critical risk.
“For hospitality and tourism leaders, the stakes are especially high. Customer trust, brand reputation and operational continuity can all be damaged by a single incident. In many cases, all it takes is one phishing email being opened for a business to face a serious breach.
“It is often the major global incidents that make the headlines, but many attacks affect small and medium-sized businesses. That is why raising awareness remains so important.
“The Code of Trust programme we have developed with HIT Scotland is designed to give senior leaders the clarity, frameworks and confidence they need to lead from the front. It is about helping executives ask the right questions, make informed decisions and build cyber resilience into governance, culture and strategic planning.”
Dave Allen, programme director at HIT Scotland, said: “For Scotland’s hospitality and tourism sector, trust is everything. Guests trust businesses with their data, payments and overall experience. Protecting that trust now requires strong cyber governance at the highest level.
“At HIT Scotland, we are committed to developing forward-thinking leaders who understand that cyber resilience is now an essential part of running a successful business.”
Picture: Jude McCorry
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