Weekly News Update

Cannot believe that it’s a week since we attended the @World Travel Market Event & @UKABIF events 

World Accessible Holidays had a fantastic week which started off with 

Monday 4^th November

• • We had an early start on the Monday as we were attending the @UKABIF United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum “Time for Change” summit at The Quays, Salford Manchester and some excellent meetings and introductions to Case Managers, Occupational Therapists & legal businesses

• • Later, we were sorting out a long haul holiday for a client who may not be able to get the seats they want, as British Airways have redesigned their business class seat and made them less accessible.  As a result we’ve been able to organise a familiarisation session at Heathrow to try the seat properly before we book – link to post 

Tuesday

• • We started our journey to World Travel Market 24, which is where the world’s Tourist Boards and Hotels, and other businesses meet to promote their countries to the rest of the world.  Sandra Bentley joined us to go and “Fly the Accessibility and Disability Flag”

• • We had a fantastic meeting at the Premier Inn Heathrow Terminal 4 also, who we have to mention, as the adapted rooms are great and the hotel is fully accessible.  It’s also connected directly to Terminal 4 and the Elizabeth line so you can get to the airport departures without ever going outside and get into central London on a fully wheelchair accessible tube line.

Wednesday

• • Off to World Travel Market 24 at ExCel.  We made an early start and decided to go and talk with some of the main countries on our hit list.  We started with Spain and Sandra Bentley went to listen to the “Spain for All” accessibility project panel, hosted at the Espana Stand (pic) – by Angus Drummond @limitless travel and panel members including @miguel Carrascu Hernandez @marina stellenberg, EDI Lead @Tui   @Ade Adeptian  @pedro Medino Asensio, Manuel Butler Halter, Miguel Sanz, Jesus Rui 

• • This was an amazing panel and well attended.  It was great to see other tourist boards wanting to find out more about how they can replicate the model Spain is implementing.

The #SpainForAll report –     Start of Something Exciting For Accessible Travel in Spain – World Accessible Holidays

We also chatted with @Domes Hotels – we are keen to see their hotels, and I will be visiting their property on the Algarve next week to see how they embrace accessibility.  World Accessible Holidays is always keen to help hotel brands to be more diverse and inclusive.  For us, collaborations are key to everyone’s success and we thank @Stewart Plumridge  for inviting @world accessible holidays to take a tour around the Domes Lake Algarve, Vilamoura  in Portugal Luxury Lake Spa Hotel in Algarve, Portugal | Domes Lake  – I am hoping to do some live events from there so please keep your eyes open for that and a Q&A session about the resort 

• • Lots of other conversations took place with @Aura Tours, Greek National Tourism Organisation, and other countries including Cyprus, Mexico & Portugal to name a few

• • More to follow on The World Travel Market 24 as there was so much to see, it was totally mind blowing.

Thursday

• • Steve, Sandra and Myself got up with great gusto and went back to talk to specific countries a bit more and it did not disappoint. We had some very interesting conversations with @Minor Hotels & @Iberostar as well as lots of other hotel chains.

• • Sandra was a super networker as always, and even spoke to some Travel and Tourism Students, who were keen to learn more about World Accessible Holidays. This turned out to be a great conversation that could possibly lead to something bigger.  There’s lots to be done in educating the next generation of travel professionals as this is where we can affect change.  More to come on this.

• • She even spoke to a golf tour company about offering accessible golf holidays, something they had not even thought of. 

• • World Travel Market was an excellent event and we left having been completely blown away. We met some fabulous people including @Lord Charlie Morton, @Sophie Biddlecombe from 4 suitcases & wheelchair, @Simon Miller, Enable my trip, @Shelley Cowan, @Angus Drumond, @limitless Travel & the #Spain for All Panel and made some great new friends too,

• • Got home late for an early start back to the office FRIDAY

Friday

• • Back to work – had 3 appointments with potential customers to discuss some fantastic holidays including USA and India.

The work we do at World Accessible Holidays is so much more than just booking trips, it’s about education, it’s about advocating for change in the travel industry and it’s about providing an invaluable service to professionals involved in disability such as Case Managers and Occupational Therapists, so that we can help them plan holidays for their clients. 

What a week!

Please give us a follow. If you want to find out more about us visit www.worldaccessibleholidays.co.uk