Accessible Hospitality in Action

This week I had the pleasure of attending the Accessible Hospitality Alliance Forum, delivered in partnership with Thomas Franks Ltd. It brought together leaders from across the hospitality sector to share practical insight, lived experience and bold ideas on accessibility and inclusion.

As an advisor to the Accessible Hospitality Alliance, I knew the Forum would be something special. It exceeded expectations.

Leading with What Works

I was fortunate to sit at the table led by Charlotte Evans, whose theme was The Accessible Hotel Experience. What stood out most was her decision to focus on positive examples of accessibility in action.

Rather than beginning with barriers or failures, she invited us to explore what good looks like. That shift in framing is powerful. It moves the conversation from compliance to creativity. From risk to opportunity. From obligation to pride.

In my work across hospitality, heritage rail, retail and events, I see time and again that when we highlight practical success stories, leaders lean in. They can see the pathway forward.

Not a Talking Shop

We heard moving talks from across the sector, and I was struck by the tangible progress made since the last Forum. This is not a space where people simply exchange business cards and go home unchanged. There is real action. Real accountability. Real follow through.

Why This Matters

At Seats at the Table, our work is grounded in one simple principle: everyone deserves a place.

Hospitality is uniquely placed to lead on this. It is an industry built on welcome. Yet welcome must be intentional. It requires design choices, staff confidence, operational thinking and leadership commitment.

Forums like this create the conditions for change because they bring together:

• Operators

• Investors

• Accessibility specialists

• Lived experience voices

• Trainers and advisors

When these perspectives sit together, solutions become more nuanced and more sustainable.

Continuing the Conversation

One of the most powerful parts of the day was the informal discussion between sessions. The small, practical questions. The curiosity. The willingness to learn.

So I would love to extend that conversation.

What has made you feel most included in a hospitality space?

Was it a member of staff who understood without you having to explain?
Clear information before you arrived?
A physical environment that anticipated your needs?
Or something subtle that simply made you feel at ease?

These insights matter. They shape how we advise, train and design. You can contribute to these discussions here.