V.E. Conference on Accessible Tourism a success!

18th Mar 2015

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Blackpool was the venue this week for Visit England's national conference on Accessible Tourism.

Titled: 'Unlocking the Purple Pound' this free event was designed to help owners and managers improve their facilities and services for disabled people and others with accessibility needs – a market now worth £12.4bn to England’s tourism industry.

Held on Wednesday 18 March 2015 in English Tourism Week at Sandcastle Waterpark and Grosvenor Casino, Blackpool, the conference was aimed at those who:

  • - Recognise the business opportunities of good access for all but are not sure how best to approach it 

  • - Are keen to meet their obligations under the Equality Act but need ideas on making ‘reasonable adjustments’

  • - Want to find simple, low-cost ways of improving the experience for all their visitors

This free event was aimed at tourism operators throughout England, from small B&Bs to large visitor attractions and was relevant for managers of visitor services, operations, sales and marketing and SME owners.

The programme included:

  • A light-hearted look at life’s challenges by Paul Carter

  • Expert insights from a panel of professionals 

  • Tailored sessions for attractions and accommodation businesses 

  •  Access Statement workshop 

  •  Top tips for accessible marketing 

  •  Advice from one of the best – Access for All Tourism Award winning Sandcastle Waterpark 

  •  How to become an accessibility champion at your venue

  • Accessible Derbyshire delivered workshops sessions in the afternoon on 'the customer journey and how to improve it'. This interactive session was run in conjunction with Yorkshire-based Visits Unlimited and enabled participants to develop practical ways to improve their accessibility for customers with access needs.

  • Gillian Scotford, co-founder of Accessible Derbyshire said: " The conference was fantastic: it was enjoyable and informative as well as providing a rare opportunity to share thoughts and ideas with so many others in the industry. The workshop sessions in the afternoon worked extremely well and we had lots of great feedback. It was a real privilege to take part

  •  We would love anyone who is interested in taking part in a similar session locally to get in touch. Accessible Tourism is a very lucrative market and we want to help businesses increase their share."

  • Anyone interested in learning more about accessible tourism should email Gillian and Jane at info@accessiblederbyshire.org.

 

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