Inverness and Loch Ness tourism body’s ‘must-see’ visitor destination ambitions spark key appointment at Visit Inverness Loch Ness
A new figurehead has been appointed to help raise the profile of Inverness and Loch Ness as a “must-see” destination.
Ellen Fogel Walker has been named as Visit Inverness Loch Ness’ (VILN) new destination director.
And the organisation’s delighted chairs believe she will help drive VILN’s ambitions to make the area even more attractive with domestic and international visitors.
Joint chairs of VILN, Victoria Erasmus and Tony Story said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Ellen. Her experience in sustainable tourism makes her the ideal person to lead Visit Inverness Loch Ness into its next exciting chapter.
“She brings a fresh perspective, and a strong track record of collaboration and innovation. We’re confident she will build on our region’s strengths and drive forward our vision for a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable visitor economy.
“This is a critical time for our industry as we continue to recover, adapt, and grow in a rapidly changing landscape and economy. Supporting our membership and wider community requires strong, focused leadership — and that’s exactly what Ellen brings to the role.”
As destination director, the pair said that Ellen will lead the organisation and its strategic vision, working closely with members, partners and stakeholders to raise the profile of Inverness and Loch Ness, “champion the visitor economy, and strengthen collaboration across the tourism and hospitality sector”. They added that her appointment “reinforces VILN’s commitment to ensuring the voices of members are heard, represented and supported”.
Ellen originally hails from South Carolina’s Lowcountry and brings over a decade of experience across hospitality, heritage and tourism sectors in the USA, Spain and Scotland. She holds degrees from Flagler College in Florida and completed her postgraduate studies at the University of Stirling, where she specialised in heritage planning and cultural development.
VILN said her passion for empowering communities and delivering outstanding visitor experiences has been a consistent theme throughout her career. In Scotland, she has worked with the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), holding roles at Culloden Battlefield and, most recently, serving as Operations Manager for Aberdeenshire North, overseeing Castle Fraser, Fyvie Castle, Haddo House and Pitmedden Garden.
She first visited Inverness in 2016 through a cultural exchange programme and immediately felt a connection with the area. She returned permanently in 2020, settling in Inverness and continuing to build strong links with local heritage and tourism through her work and community involvement.
Speaking about her new role, Ellen said: “I am beyond honoured to be representing our members to promote our incredible and internationally acclaimed region. Finding a chosen home is an incredibly special thing, and I am passionate about sharing the love that I have for this destination with the world.”
“My hope for this role is that I will share how the people of this region make it a globally recognised destination. The thing that attracted me to this role and VILN as an organisation is its commitment to its members. As the new Destination Director, I look forward to advocating for them and driving increased visibility for our region.”
Looking ahead, Ellen said she is committed to prioritising member engagement and representation across key industry matters.
“Our members can expect to have their views heard and have representation on essential matters for our industry. Experienced in political advocacy on local and national levels, I understand the accountability we have to our members to deliver our business plan and provide value.
“Starting in early June, I will be prioritising getting out into the community and meeting our members. At the same time, I will be working closely to ensure our members are represented throughout the ongoing situation with the impending Visitor Levy. VILN exists not only to promote the region, but also to improve relationships between our members to create a welcoming environment where we all can benefit.”
She continued: “As someone who has worked in almost every role of our industry - from changing beds and washing dishes to compiling reports for world heritage - I understand the hard work that goes into making it all happen. I hope that this experience will allow me the insight to represent you all in the coming years. It truly is an honour and a privilege.”
