Stephen Spencer elected to leadership roles at the Tourism Society and Home & Gift Association
Stephen Spencer has been elected to two significant industry leadership roles, joining both the Board of the Tourism Society and the National Committee of the newly named Home & Gift Association (formerly the Giftware Association).
The appointments reflect Stephen's long-standing commitment to strengthening the visitor economy by bringing together expertise from tourism, retail and visitor experience, and provide an opportunity to help shape conversations across two sectors that are becoming increasingly interconnected.
Stephen and attendees of the Tourism Society AGM
Supporting the future of retail
In June, Stephen was elected to the National Committee of The Home & Gift Association at its Annual General Meeting, held in the historic setting of Warwick Castle.
The event, hosted in collaboration with the British Allied Trades Federation (BATF), brought together industry leaders from across the UK's creative industries.
Stephen joins the National Committee alongside newly elected Chair Stephen Illingworth of Widdop + Co. and recently appointed CEO Gemma Sault, helping to guide the Association through an exciting new chapter following its rebrand from the Giftware Association to the Home & Gift Association.
The new identity reflects the increasingly connected worlds of gifting, home décor, fragrance, stationery, lifestyle and design-led products, recognising the changing needs of retailers, suppliers and brands across the sector.
For visitor attractions, museums and heritage organisations, retail continues to play an important role in extending storytelling, supporting local makers and strengthening commercial viability, making the work of the Association increasingly relevant to the wider visitor economy.
The Home & Gift Association’s new look
Strengthening the visitor economy
In July, Stephen attended the Tourism Society's Annual General Meeting at the British Music Experience in Liverpool, where he was formally elected to the Society's Board after serving as a co-opted Board member over the previous year.
The AGM brought together members from across the tourism sector for two days of networking, discussion and behind-the-scenes visits, including the Cunard Building, the British Music Experience and Strawberry Field.
A particular highlight was hearing from Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO City of Music, Liverpool City Council, whose presentation explored Liverpool's extraordinary musical heritage and international cultural significance.
Kevin McManus, Head of UNESCO City of Music, Liverpool City Council
The visit to Strawberry Field also demonstrated how heritage, storytelling, accessibility and community impact can come together to create a visitor experience that delivers social as well as commercial value, something that resonates strongly with SS+A's own philosophy.
Stephen also enjoyed reconnecting with the team at the British Music Experience, a museum he previously led during its earlier days at The O2.
Stephen and Chiara at the Cunard Building
Connecting retail, tourism and visitor experience
Commenting on his appointments, Stephen said “I’m particularly pleased to have the opportunity not just to support these vital organisations as they reimagine and strengthen their support for the retail and tourism sectors respectively, but also, as I always try to do, to make connections between the two.”
“As I’ve often heard said in Scotland, ‘Tourism is everyone’s business’ and I feel that sums it up: the strength of retail impacts the visitor economy directly, just as the overall quality of destinations makes them more attractive places to live, work, and invest. I’m excited to serve, with purpose and impact!”
For SS+A, these appointments reinforce a belief that has always underpinned our work: achieving viability for visitor attractions depends on strong collaboration between tourism, retail, culture and heritage.
By bringing together ideas, sharing knowledge and helping shape the future of both sectors, we can create visitor experiences that are more resilient, more purposeful and better equipped to thrive for years to come.