Fiona Drane Marketing

24/08/2026

I took part in the Scottish Rural Leadership Programme in 2023 and 2024 and can genuinely say it was one of the most worthwhile development programmes I’ve done.

It gave me time to step away from the day-to-day, challenge my own thinking and learn alongside a brilliant group of people from rural businesses and organisations across Scotland.

And the value doesn’t end when the programme does. The people, conversations and connections have stayed with me.

If you work in rural Scotland and are considering applying, I’d absolutely recommend it.

Calling all rural business leaders! 📢

With just under two weeks left to apply for the Scottish Rural Leadership Programme, you don't want to miss this opportunity!

To find out more about the programme and to apply click here ⬇️

https://bit.ly/46fAkXE

23/08/2026

Could food help make Scotland one of Europe’s finest tourist destinations?

Earlier this week I wrote about a Telegraph article which suggested Scotland could become Europe’s finest tourist destination if it addressed six issues.

One of them was food.

And travelling around Scotland recently has reminded me just how much of the answer is already here.

At Skipness Seafood Cabin, you can eat oysters, langoustines, crab, scallops, mussels and salmon beside the water.

On Arran, Mara serves food using ingredients including Arran lobster, Loch Fyne kipper, hand-dived local scallops, Arran leaves and locally baked bread. There was even Skipness smoked whiting on the menu one independent Scottish business supporting another.

On Harris, Croft 36 serves bakery, seafood and hot food from an unassuming croft shed. Their lobster butteries were my Harris food highlight this year.

And then there are places like Robin’s Boat and The Sandwich Station in Lochranza.

All completely different. And that’s the point.

Great Scottish food experiences don’t have to mean fine dining.

They can be seafood beside the water, food from a croft, a small café or takeaway discovered on your travels, or something locally made that you simply weren’t expecting to find.

And every time we spend money with businesses like these, the benefit can spread further to fishermen, growers, bakers, producers and other local businesses.

That really matters in our rural and island communities.

Independent businesses are at the heart of Scottish tourism, and food is a wonderful example of why.

If Scotland wants to become one of Europe’s finest tourist destinations, part of the answer is already here. We need to help visitors discover businesses like these and create the conditions for them to thrive.

Where have you had your most memorable Scottish food experience?

09/08/2026

What a brilliant day at the Brodick Highland Games!

Having spent much of this week working on an Events Action and Delivery Plan, it was lovely to finish the week by seeing a successful event in action.

At the heart of the Games were the volunteers not only those helping yesterday, but everyone who works throughout the year to make the event happen.

Like so many volunteer-led events across Scotland, the Games also make an important contribution to the local economy. They bring people to Arran who stay in local accommodation, eat in restaurants and cafés, and spend money in the island’s shops.

Local businesses supplied the food and drink at the event, while island shops, charities and organisations ran stalls. Even in the toilets, I was delighted to find Arran Aromatics soap and moisturising cream!

There were competitors from across the UK well, I know at least one came from Cumbria. Visitors from around the world and a great local turnout.

A wonderful example of an event bringing people together, supporting local businesses and celebrating the community that makes it happen.

And the sight and sound of the massed pipe bands made me a very proud Scot well, prouder than normal! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

04/08/2026

Today I received my annual CPD certificate, continuing my journey as a Certified Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

It also happens to be Scottish exam results day, and it made me think about learning and the different paths we all take through life.

I've always believed two things.

Firstly, university isn't the only route to a fulfilling and successful career.

Secondly, learning never really ends.

Looking back over more than 35 years working in tourism, some of my biggest lessons haven't come from qualifications. They've come from the people I've worked with, the communities I've visited, the projects that stretched me, and the occasions when things didn't quite go to plan.

That's one of the reasons I continue to complete my CPD every year. Tourism changes. Marketing changes. Technology changes. If I want to give my clients the best advice I can, then I need to keep learning too.

So today, if you've received the exam results you were hoping for, congratulations. Enjoy the moment and embrace the opportunities ahead.

If your results weren't what you wanted, it's completely understandable to feel disappointed. But one set of results doesn't define your future. Sometimes the path you hadn't planned turns out to be the one that leads to the most rewarding opportunities. (And I speak from experience).

And if your next step is work, an apprenticeship, college, starting your own business or something completely different, be proud of your choice. There isn't a single route to success.

Whatever stage of life you're at, keep learning, stay curious and never stop growing. It's one of the best investments you'll ever make.

02/08/2026

A change of office for the next few weeks.

For the next few weeks, Arran will be home while I work towards an August deadline for an important tourism report.

There will be plenty of hours behind the laptop, but one of the benefits of my work is being able to base myself somewhere different for a while. I always find that a change of surroundings brings fresh perspective, and when I need a break from the screen I’ll be heading out for a walk, a swim or simply looking out across the sea before getting back to work.

I love being here. Balancing work with early morning swims, time outdoors and a change of pace always helps me come back to the laptop with a clearer head.

Looking forward to the next few weeks.

27/07/2026

A brand is much more than a logo.

Over the coming weeks you'll start to see a few changes as Fiona Drane Marketing becomes Fiona Drane Tourism Strategy.

The name is changing because my work has evolved.

Today, I help tourism businesses, destinations and communities make better decisions through tourism strategies, business plans, feasibility studies, marketing plans and visitor experience development.

What isn't changing is my purpose.

I'm still passionate about helping tourism businesses grow and communities thrive by creating practical strategies that make a real difference.

I'm looking forward to sharing more ideas, insights and projects as this next chapter begins.

21/07/2026

Every now and then it’s worth sitting still.

No agenda.

No emails.

No rush to be somewhere else.

Just time to think.

I’ve realised that some of my best ideas don’t come when I’m trying to find them.

They arrive when I finally slow down, look around and give myself permission to simply be.

This summer has reminded me how important that is.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is stop for a while.

29/06/2026

Tomorrow I’ll be filming across the Scottish Borders with Jason Baxter, visiting places that have shaped my career, my thinking and my love of Scottish tourism.

These are places that remind me why I started working in tourism, why I still care so much about it, and why I believe the best tourism ideas are those that benefit businesses, communities, and visitors.

This project has been made possible thanks to support from the Pathways to Growth programme, funded by South of Scotland Enterprise.

It has also been helped enormously by the coaching and encouragement of Jill Clowes, who has pushed me to step outside my comfort zone and tell my own story with more confidence.

Tomorrow will definitely stretch me.

But if the finished video helps people understand how I work, the experience I bring, and how I can help tourism businesses and projects make confident decisions, then it will be worth it.

I’m looking forward to sharing it in the autumn.

Wish me luck!

19/06/2026

My son is at the World Cup.

Since he was 17, he has followed Scotland all over the world. Armenia. Germany. Now Boston.

As his mum, I’ve watched this passion grow into something much bigger than football.

Scotland away trips have given him friendships, memories and a group of people who have become like family.

People he looks out for.

People who look out for him.

And I’m so proud of the Scottish fans too. They bring colour, humour, warmth and pride wherever they go. They fill bars, restaurants and hotels, create atmosphere and leave people with a lasting impression of Scotland.

Football is the reason they met.

But it has become so much more than football.

One passion. One dream. The Scotland national team.

As a mum, watching that journey has been very special.