A SCOTS hospitality group has announced a new senior appointment within the company ahead of their 16 year anniversary.
The Fusion Group of Companies have appointed Stephen Montgomery, Spokesperson of the Scottish Hospitality Group (SHG), as a new Non Executive Director.
Fusion work across the hotel commercial property, hospitality and meetings and events sectors, and have launched several new subsidiaries since their founding by Alex McKie in 2006.
These include Accommodation Services – a reservations business for hotels and other holiday accommodation, and commercial property agency Drysdale and Company.
Fusion now own, operate, manage or support over 2,000 rooms across Scotland, and are handling and facilitating “over £10m in transactions”.
Commenting on his appointment, Stephen Montgomery, said: “I am really excited to join Alex and his team at Fusion Group.
“I look forward to bringing a new element to the business through offering some consultancy to the sector, especially after what has been a catastrophic two years for the hospitality and tourism sector.
“I am glad that Alex has decided that what I am able to offer will slot in with his extending portfolio of business.
“I hope that with my many contacts, we will be able to broaden the profile of the business further.”
Alex McKie said: “We’re delighted to welcome someone of Stephen’s considerable calibre to the Fusion Group of Companies, as our latest Non Executive Director.
“We look forward to him adding value to the business in the coming months, with a role advising, promoting, referring and representing the interests of our Group.”
“Stephen will share his own portfolio and contacts to help the industry as a whole at this significant time.”
Previously Stephen was President of the SLTA, a post he held for a short time, just as Covid hit, before resigning.
Currently refurbishing a new restaurant in Annan which will open next month, he explained how the SHG came to be established.
He said: “SHG was formed mainly because of the pandemic, where it was felt that the voices of Scotland’s biggest and most well known bars, restaurants and hotels were not being recognised.
“We formed and shared information. I had already formed great relationships with members of all parties within the Scottish Government, so we were well placed.
“We continued to strengthen those relationships with our continued discussions with Government.
“Its future is now focused on recovery, recruitment and training.
“It’s a busy time ahead for me with my new restaurant due to open, SHG, plus joining Fusion, but I am certainly looking forward to what lies ahead.”
Alex McKie added: “Conditions in the hospitality industry are still difficult, but 16 years down the line, we are confident we are leading the way in what can be done to fight back.
“We had the credit crunch crash not long after we formed Fusion initially so there will always be challenges that come along in the economy.
“We’ve always tried to be proactive, whether it’s forming joint ventures, fostering new service partners, or concentrating on specialist areas that can be contracted out to other hospitality businesses.”
“Running reservations departments for Hotels, Holiday Parks and managed apartments, Accommodation Services is designed to maximise revenue streams for hospitality owners and investors.
“It’s been very successful as running such a department efficiently has an instant effect on a Hotel’s bottom line.
“Stephen’s appointment could not have come at a better time for us all.”
