Is accessibility the next big hospitality opportunity?

The UK’s hospitality industry is missing out on the ‘purple pound’ market, which is estimated at £274 billion, according to the Accessible Hospitality Alliance (AHA). The ‘purple pound’ is the spending power that disabled people and their households bring to the economy. The AHA says that by treating accessibility as a compliance issue rather than a commercial opportunity, venues are missing out on this spending.

A forum discussion with senior industry leaders said that treating accessibility as a strategic business priority is key to attracting these customers and making them feel welcome. Alongside getting advice from accessibility experts, the AHA encourages venues to appoint an Access Champion in their team who can focus on giving disabled customers the best possible experience.