Sightseeing Tour Management

Making your events more accessible for blind & visually impaired people really isn’t as hard as you think. Here are my top tips. 1. Provide precise venue information. Include things like clear drop off and pick up point information, what the key features of the building are, a rough description of where the toilets are, describe where the reception desk is, and let us know in advance if you’ll need a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan completed. Bonus points for using a service like Euan's Guide or AccessAble to provide specialist access information. 2. Provide as much event information as possible. Share all key details in advance, ideally by email in an accessible format. Include timings, speaker names, attendee names, a brief agenda, and any known accessibility considerations. It helps us plan travel, support, and energy levels and it also helps us know who’s attending so when we’re surprised with a “Hey Robbie!” we can narrow it down to who it might be. 3. Food information is key. It sounds simple, but make sure menus are firstly available, then accessible - even for buffets. Relying on a fellow attendee to tell me something “looks chickeney” gives me the absolute fear. Include dietary details in an electronic format we can read with a screen reader, and avoid handwritten or printed-only menus. Tell us how food will be served so we can prepare (for example, buffet vs plated service). 4. Ask about adjustments - don’t assume you’ll know what someone needs. Just ask the question when people register. Keep it open and inclusive, such as “Do you have any access requirements you’d like us to be aware of?” 5. Provide complimentary +1 places as an adjustment - if someone needs a guide, PA, or support worker to attend with them, they shouldn’t be charged double. It’s an inclusion basic that makes a big difference. 6. Finally, provide training to your staff and event volunteers. Organisations like The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and RNIB can help you here with things like sighted guide training. And most importantly - don’t wait until someone asks before you do this. It won’t help just blind people, it’ll help everyone. Think about this list - is there anything on here that genuine would help you as a sighted person? Build accessibility in from the start and everyone benefits. #DisabilityInclusion #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #Adjustments #DiversityAndInclusion #Content

Airbnb has teamed up with the Olympics + Paralympics to offer accessible listings! There are now over 1,000 step-free accommodations available and 300 Adapted listings in the Paris region. The International Paralympic Committee states, “To achieve this goal, Airbnb partnered with France’s leading disability organization, APF France handicap, Para athletes including Axel Alletru and Sofiane Mehiaoui, and leading 3D spatial company Matterport. This partnership aims to raise awareness about the opportunity of hosting and provide tailored support to hosts who consider opening their homes with accessibility features.” Over a year ago, the effort began to reach this goal of 1,000 new step-free listings. Initiatives included providing educational content, one-to-one guidance and tools, and free 3D scans to help new and current Airbnb hosts demonstrate the accessibility features of their listings. I love that Airbnb collaborated with disabled athletes as well as a local organization. Initiatives like this must get feedback from actual disabled people and meaningfully involve them in lead roles. As a full-time deafblind traveler, I’m excited to see accessibility more prioritized. I hope this initiative sparks necessary changes in the travel industry. We need more accessible accommodations. What are your thoughts on this? Article link: https://lnkd.in/e-gVX8_c #Travel #Accessibilty #DisabilityAwareness 

Glasgow surprised me. Not because it’s perfect, it isn’t. There are still cobbles, uneven pavements and the usual barriers you find in older cities. But what stood out was how easy it felt to be there. This piece is about that experience. I’ve shared how to plan an accessible city break to Glasgow, from getting around to where to eat, stay and spend time. More importantly, it’s about what actually makes a difference on the ground. The conversations with staff, the willingness to help, and the feeling that you’re not constantly having to work things out on your own. For me, accessibility isn’t just about infrastructure, it’s also about attitude. And Glasgow gets that right more often than most. The article is now live with The Independent. Read in full at this link: https://lnkd.in/et-DNz8t If you’ve been to Glasgow, I’d love to know what stood out to you. #AccessibleTravel #InclusiveTourism #Glasgow #TravelWriting #Accessibility #WheelchairTravel #UKTravel #TourismIndustry

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀 For millions of wheelchair users, travel remains a challenge. Bulky designs, airline restrictions, and the risk of damage make every journey an obstacle course. Independence shouldn’t have to be checked in at the gate. 💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗶𝗿 Designed by Andrea Mocellin, 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗶𝗿 is a game-changer: a foldable wheelchair with wheels that reduce space by 60%, making it compact enough to fit into an airline cabin compartment. No more check-ins. No more waiting. Just seamless, independent travel. 🎯 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: ✅ 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱: Folds into a compact, travel-ready size. ✅ 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝘀𝗲: A state-of-the-art folding mechanism ensures effortless operation. ✅ 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Meets airline cabin luggage standards, eliminating hassle. ✅ 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: More freedom, more autonomy, more possibilities. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗶𝗿 is more than a wheelchair. It is a statement about what mobility should be: 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀. #innovation #mobility #accessibility #design #travel

Kochi Fort Museum couldn't build a ramp. Couldn't add a lift. Space too small. So they did this instead... A motorized stairlift that folds away when not needed. Genius constraint-driven design. We've all seen it - historic buildings with accessibility problems. Narrow staircases. No space for ramps. Too expensive to add lifts. The usual solution? "Sorry, not accessible." Or worse: carry wheelchairs up manually, which is undignified and unsafe. Kochi Fort Museum faced a real problem: → 30 steps to climb → Vertical space, very narrow → One of Kerala's most visited tourist spots → Gets extremely crowded during festivals → Historic building - can't just rebuild it → Need to preserve the original architecture What they couldn't do: Ramp: Would take up the entire walkway. In a crowded tourist spot, that blocks everyone. Most of the time, it sits empty because it's only needed occasionally. Lift/Elevator: Requires re-engineering the entire structure. Expensive. Destroys heritage value. Takes permanent space. Manual carrying: Undignified. Unsafe. Not a real solution. What they did instead: Installed a Stairlift - a motorized chair that runs along the staircase railing. Why this is brilliant: → Takes minimal space (5.9-7.2 inches when folded) → Only extends when someone needs it → Folds away completely when not in use → Doesn't block the staircase for others → Preserves the heritage architecture → Actually dignified and safe → Works independently - user controls it themselves The measurements: Way IN (going up): 35.4-39.4 inches width Way OUT (stairs): 43.3-47.2 inches width The stairlift only takes 5.9-7.2 inches along the rail. Doesn't block the path. This is constraint-driven design at its best. They had three major constraints: Limited space Historic preservation Accessibility requirement Instead of compromising on accessibility (which most places do), they found a solution that respects all three. This is what "designed for accessibility" actually means Great design isn't about unlimited resources. It's about creative solutions within limitations. Constraints don't kill accessibility. Lazy thinking does.

Just came across a interesting research exploring how Mixed Reality (MR) and #Metaverse Tourism can revolutionize travel experiences—especially for destinations with limited physical access. 🚀 The study proposes an MR-powered virtual tourism experience, enabling immersive 360 tours that blend real-world visuals with interactive virtual environments. The goal? To make tourism accessible to everyone, including the elderly and people with disabilities. 🔧 Using tools like Unreal Engine, Blender, and Oculus VR Meta Quest 2, the researchers created a prototype that could serve as a blueprint for inclusive tourism development—a powerful example of how immersive tech can drive economic growth, sustainability, and social impact. Check it out! #MetaverseTourism #MixedReality #AccessibleTourism #DigitalInnovation #Web3 #ImmersiveTech #Sustainability #TourismTransformation #VirtualTravel #Inclusion

30% of the world's population (2.6 billion people) are affected by accessibility needs, controlling $120 billion in annual travel spending. Yet 97% of travel content lacks meaningful accessibility information. That $120 billion represents spending despite massive barriers and poor service. The true market potential is likely far larger. I just published a new deep dive on Wheel the World, the company building the accessibility data layer for the travel industry. What started with co-founders Alvaro Silberstein and Camilo Navarro Bustos' mission to make Alvaro the first wheelchair user to complete the W Trek in Patagonia has evolved into something much bigger. The problem they're solving: → ADA-compliant ≠ functionally accessible → Hotels document minor details such as thread counts but can't tell you if a wheelchair user can reach the bathroom sink → Mainstream OTAs offer accessibility filters with zero verification Their solution: → 200+ verified data points per property → AI + LiDAR technology reducing mapping costs by 70% → 4,000 properties mapped across 80 destinations → B2B and B2C flywheel $6M projected revenue for 2025, 70% gross margins The most powerful insight is that they're not fixing hotels, they're fixing information. As our population ages, we're all headed toward having accessibility needs. This isn't a niche market; it's a preview of everyone's future needs. Read the full deep dive: https://lnkd.in/g-m-xn2W

How Can Heritage Sites and Outdoor Spaces Become Universally Accessible? “Heritage belongs to everyone, but only if everyone can reach it.” Open-air museums, archaeological parks, and heritage landscapes pose distinct accessibility challenges: uneven terrain, fragile materials, and limited infrastructure. Why It Matters Heritage access is not only a human right but also a driver of sustainable tourism, cultural diplomacy, and climate resilience. When outdoor spaces are inaccessible, entire communities are excluded from shared memory. Universal design ensures that cultural heritage is preserved and experienced by all, across generations and identities. The Standards Imperative International standards provide a blueprint for inclusive outdoor environments: ISO 21542:2021— Defines parameters for outdoor routes, surface materials, gradients, and resting points. BS 8300-2:2018 — Covers accessible approaches, seating, and interpretation in external settings. ADA 2010 — Requires continuous accessible routes to all site facilities. Design Principles for Open-Air Inclusion To make heritage truly universal, sites should integrate: Continuous, firm, and slip-resistant pathways with visual and tactile contrast. Resting areas every 50–60 m, ideally shaded and equipped with seating. Multi-format interpretation, tactile models, Braille, captioned videos, audio guides, and easy-to-read text, ensuring information is accessible to all sensory and cognitive needs. Wayfinding and orientation systems, tactile maps, high-contrast signage, and digital navigation aids that support independent movement across complex sites. Accessible viewing platforms and drop-off zones, located near entrances and connected to continuous accessible routes. Emergency accessibility, evacuation routes, alarms with visual and auditory signals, and staff trained in inclusive safety procedures. These elements foster dignity, autonomy, and engagement for diverse audiences. Exemplary Practice Pompeii Archaeological Park (Italy) — Raised walkways and tactile replicas enhance access while preserving integrity, guided by UNESCO. Acropolis of Athens (Greece) — Discreet lift access enables wheelchair users to reach the summit without visual disruption. Historic Centre of Vienna (Austria) — Integrates accessible urban heritage routes, tactile maps, and inclusive signage, enabling independent exploration of cultural landmarks. Smithsonian Gardens (USA) — Outdoor exhibits incorporate accessible paths, sensory-friendly interpretation, and inclusive programming, showing how all can experience heritage and nature. The Lesson Universal access is not a concession; it is a continuation of preservation. #AccessibleHeritage #UniversalDesign #ISO21542 #BS8300 #UNESCOHeritageForAll #InclusiveTourism #CulturalAccessibility #ADA #WeAreBillionStrong

If your accessibility strategy is ‘we’ll make it work’, you’re cutting corners at the expense of your guests. Is that really how you want to plan your event? I’m not going to lie, in all the work we are doing building our digital twin technology, I hadn’t really thought about how it can positively impact diversity and inclusion. But now as we see this amazing technology is many different event settings, the potential to make a real impact here is huge. Planning access for patrons with different disabilities, injuries or mobility issues has typically been a simplified and rushed process, especially when it comes to temporary events. They are a nightmare for accessibility and it’s not because those planning the event don’t care about patrons with accessibility issues. It's simply because sometimes it's just not practical to get to a level where you're delivering what you should be delivering in a temporary situation where so many elements are changing as you're building. Take access ramps as an example. You’ve planned for a ramp to be installed to make a stage or seating area accessible. It makes sense on the plans you’ve made, but now you’re onsite building it and it doesn’t quite meet the existing path on site. It falls 3m short. Shit! So now you are left with a situation where a guest in a wheelchair or with crutches or walking aids now have to navigate a section of portable flooring that you’ve laid last minute or uneven or muddy ground. You are strapped for time and so just have to find a way to ‘make it work’. But even though you tried your best, your guest experience has now been affected. With digital twin technology, we are able to produce such detailed ground models that you can tell WITHIN A MILLIMETRE where that ramp’s going to end. We can accurately see what areas are concrete, dirt or grass. We can adjust the pitch of the ramp and the materials requested for it, so that when you actually arrive on site to build it, you are spot on. No surprises. Accessibility ramps are one such example. Think of all the other considerations needed to create a memorable experience for a patron with accessibility issues: • car park navigation • seating sight lines • bathroom access • waiting areas in bad weather. We can work through all these scenarios before a single ticket is sold! That is the power of digital twin technology in events.

Talk about idea validation! Yesterday, I attended a talk by Katy Raines where she and a colleague *proved* the need for a platform like Eventably. During their presentation, they discussed some research they had done on accessibility and events. 1. Accessibility Isn’t Niche – It’s Mainstream 56% of respondents identified as disabled or having a long-term health condition. Over 25% of non-disabled visitors still use access features like step-free access, captions, or quiet spaces. Takeaway: Accessibility features aren't just for a minority—they benefit a majority of attendees and improve experiences for all. 2. Clear, Accessible Information = Higher Attendance 75% of disabled people always research accessibility before attending an event. But 71% struggle to find key information—especially on websites. The Eventably platform makes accessibility info easy to find and built-in, reducing barriers to participation. We provide the ability for event organizers and venues to disclose accessibility information in ways that no_other_platform_does. 3. Poor Booking Experiences Drive People Away Disabled visitors are 9x more likely to struggle with online booking. 91% of disabled users cannot fully communicate their access needs during the booking process. Eventably is built with accessibility as a first class concern, not an afterthought like current platforms which, at best, play lip service to accessibility. 4. Confidence Drives Attendance — and Accessibility Builds Confidence 39% of disabled visitors lack confidence their needs will be met, and 38% have missed events due to this uncertainty. Confidence is especially low among younger audiences under 35, who represent the future of event participation. Eventably can enable organizers to add virtual tours, venue photos, and customizable access notes to build attendee confidence pre-event. 5. Accessible Venues See Higher Participation The biggest reported barriers to attendance: Unavailable accessible seating (52%) Transport or physical access issues (39%) Lack of confidence needs will be met (38%) Events that actively remove these barriers can unlock untapped market segments. 6. Tech Can Be a Great Equalizer — If Done Right Disabled visitors use mobile ordering (33%) and QR codes (41%) more than non-disabled visitors. But 24% still face barriers due to poor tech design or lack of support. Eventably’s mission: Provide accessible, inclusive tech that empowers independence, speed, and choice, especially in crowd-heavy environments. 7. Inclusion ≠ One-Size-Fits-All People seek different accommodations: captions, relaxed performances, visual stories, sunflower lanyards, priority passes, etc. Eventably can help organizers customize offerings, letting attendees opt into the access features that match their needs. https://lnkd.in/epUhyatj