Access Avenue

The Access Avenue logo, featuring a gold atom symbol on a transparent background. The text "Access Avenue" is below the symbol, with the tagline "Inclusive, Sustainable Futures" underneath.
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Accommodation For All

#AccommodationForAll

I’m delighted to launch the campaign ‘Accommodation For All’

Everyone Has A Right To Experience Travel

Personally, experience of the hospitality industry as a wheelchair user in NI and Ireland has been extremely eventful, challenging and stressful. The majority of venues which I visited were inadequate and inaccessible. Additionally I had to purchase and transport a portable hoist (costing £1,200) just to be toileted.

Having experienced ineffective venues, researched the topic and discovered major failings and vast access barriers, I want to improve accessibility within the hospitality industry so that others can fully participate and enjoy travel and tourism without facing similar challenges.

I want to highlight the importance of access and its power to change lives through the 5 E’s concept Explore, Equal, Effective, Enjoyable Experiences.

My research findings show that the majority of hospitality venues do not accommodate everyone in society.

Only 17 fully accessible hotels are available in the UK with none being in Northern Ireland. This is totally unacceptable as approximately 265,000 people with severe physical disabilities in the UK alone require these facilities to be able to stay away from home. This figure rises to 132 million international guests worldwide, emphasising major opportunities.

A dire situation exists for domestic and international tourists with severe physical disabilities and wheelchair users visiting hospitality venues, particularly accommodation. However, this is not only a local problem but a regional, national and global issue impacting the entire hospitality and tourism ecosystem.

The majority of guests with disabilities feel access barriers within hospitality venues are too high to enjoy traveling. In some cases these barriers are preventing people from engaging in travel and tourism. Transformational change is needed for everyone to have a right to be included and fully participate, experience and enjoy travel and tourism.

Everyone deserves the right to experience travel equity.

Unlock and Embrace the Purple Pound 🔑

Accessibility!
Accessibility!
Accessibility !
Is key to unlocking the Purple Pound!

Shelley Cowan's signature
"A smiling blonde woman in a purple blazer stands on a pathway outdoors. She's holding a large purple sign that reads 'Accommodation for All' with 'Access Avenue' and a logo underneath. The background shows a wooded area with trees and greenery. There's a metal railing visible beside the path, suggesting it might be accessible." "Outdoors by a lake. A woman in a purple blazer stands behind a podium with 'Accommodation for All' written on it. Next to her, a man in a wheelchair holds a sign reading '#AccommodationForAll'. Both are smiling. They're on a wooden platform surrounded by grass and shrubs. The background shows a lake and cloudy sky. The podium has the 'Access Avenue' logo, indicating an event or initiative focused on accessibility." "A smiling blonde woman in a purple top and black blazer stands in a grassy area holding a purple sign that reads 'Accommodation for All' with the Access Avenue logo. She's positioned next to a large red heart-shaped sculpture. In the background, there's a river or canal and a row of colorful houses. The scene suggests a picturesque small town or village setting." "Two smiling women stand in an office space. They're holding signs that read '#AccommodationForAll' and 'Accommodation for All' with the Access Avenue logo. The woman on the left wears a purple top, while the one on the right wears a green shirt. Behind them is a counter with 'EXCHANGE' visible. The wall above displays text: 'SUPPORTING COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY WITHIN THE CITY'. The room has wooden floors and spotlights on the ceiling." "Inside a building with large windows overlooking a lake. A woman in a purple blazer stands behind a man in a wheelchair. The man wears a white shirt. In front of them is a sign reading '#AccommodationForAll'. To the right is a blue board with 'Accommodation for All' and 'Access Avenue' written on it. The background shows a lake view with grassy areas."