The Association has its origins in the St Andrews and District Hotels and Caterers' Association which represented some forty members in the 1960s and 1970s. This organisation had members from Boarding Houses, Unlicensed and Private Hotels, Licensed Hotels and Cafes, Tearooms and Restaurants in St Andrews.

Members are all providers of accommodation who have a local postcode for St Andrews.  They are graded by VisitScotland  to be one of: Inn, Guest House, Small Hotel, Hotel or Resort Hotel.  All members provide serviced letting rooms with breakfast to visitors.  They all comply with Fire Regulations.

A Golf Section of the Association exists to organise the allocation of Tee Times made each year by the St Andrews Links Trust.