Hospitality operators are increasingly recognising that accessibility is not a specialist consideration but an essential part of how modern hospitality operates. Among those and the latest to join membership of Accessible Hospitality Alliance (aha) is Watergate Bay Hotel, part of the wider hospitality group that includes Another Place and SeaSpace.
Watergate Bay brings with it a hospitality philosophy shaped by inclusion and a commitment to accessibility.
Perched above the sweeping shoreline of Watergate Bay, the hotel has long been known for creating a contemporary coastal experience built around outdoor living, good food and time by the sea. That same thinking naturally extends to accessibility, recognising that hospitality experiences — from dining to leisure to the simple pleasure of time spent by the water — should be open to as many people as possible.
Across the property, accessibility has been considered through both design and day-to-day operation. Wheelchair-adapted accommodation includes accessible double and family rooms with step-free layouts and wet-room bathrooms. Public areas, restaurants and leisure spaces are connected by lifts and step-free routes, while accessible parking and facilities help ensure guests can arrive, move easily and relax into their stay.
That commitment continues beyond the building itself. The hotel’s setting beside a two-mile stretch of sand has shaped how accessibility is approached across the wider environment. A sloping boardwalk provides access from the hotel to the beach, and, during the warmer months, a sand wheelchair enables wheelchair users to experience the shoreline. The hotel also supports The Wave Project, who run accessible surf sessions from Watergate Bay, by storing kit (which includes seated surf boards, a beach wheelchair and an adult changing table) and providing a changing space and outdoor shower facility. Accessibility therefore becomes part of the coastal experience rather than something confined to interior spaces.
Joining Accessible Hospitality Alliance membership places Watergate Bay Hotel within a growing community of operators who are exploring how accessible guest experience and inclusive employment can be embedded within everyday hospitality practice. Through forums, shared learning and collaboration between members, aha provides a platform where operators exchange practical insight and develop approaches that work in real hospitality environments.
Helen Bishop, Group head of sustainability & engagement, Watergate Bay Hotel | Another Place | SeaSpace said: “Accessibility and inclusivity are a real focus for us and having completed both an accessibility and neurodiversity audit, we’ve got a clear plan of short-, mid- and long-term improvements in place. Being able to be part of a forum that shares best practice, learnings and ideas is something we see as really valuable and are looking forward to the year ahead with aha.”
Watergate Bay Hotel’s membership further strengthens the alliance’s operator network across the hospitality and catering industry. Each new member brings additional perspective, helping shape the collective understanding of what accessible hospitality looks like in practice.
Charlotte Evans, Group Partnerships Director, Accessible Hospitality Alliance, said: ‘We’re thrilled to welcome Watergate Bay Hotel into the Accessible Hospitality Alliance.
“Their proactive focus on accessibility and neurodiversity shows real leadership and a commitment to removing barriers for guests.
“By sharing their insights and experiences with the alliance, they’ll help strengthen our collective understanding of what truly accessible hospitality looks like in practice.”