The Grand, Eastbourne has become the latest hospitality operator to join Accessible Hospitality Alliance membership, adding further weight to a growing collective of established industry names aligning accessibility with business performance.
Overlooking the seafront of the Sunshine Coast in Eastbourne, The Grand Hotel – known locally as ‘The White Palace’ – is the South Coast’s only five-star hotel.
The historic property offers 152 luxurious bedrooms and suites, many with sea views, balconies or private patios. Guests can dine in the acclaimed Mirabelle and Garden Restaurants, enjoy traditional Afternoon Tea in the Great Hall or relax with cocktails on the terrace overlooking the sea. Leisure facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, a health spa and gym.
Ideally located close to the South Downs National Park, Beachy Head and Birling Gap, The Grand provides an elegant base for exploring the Sussex coast while enjoying classic British seaside hospitality. The hotel is part of the Elite Hotels collection.
The Grand, Eastbourne’s decision to join Accessible Hospitality Alliance reflects a direction of travel increasingly evident across the sector, where accessibility is being considered not as an adjunct, but as integral to guest experience, workforce culture, and commercial performance.
As part of its membership, The Grand, Eastbourne will appoint an Access Champion, embedding accountability for accessibility across the business and ensuring it is represented in operational and strategic decision-making.
The Access Champion will attend The aha Forum, in Partnership with Thomas Franks, taking place on Tuesday 9 June 2026 at Barings, 20 Old Bailey, City of London, where operators come together to exchange insight, reflect on lived experience, and translate learning into action.
Dominic Osborne, General Manager, The Grand, Eastbourne said of his decision to join the alliance: “Our partnership with the Accessible Hospitality Alliance aligns closely with our values at The Grand Eastbourne. Accessibility and inclusion are central to delivering outstanding guest experiences, and we are proud to support an organisation that is helping to drive positive change across the industry.”
Graham Copeman, Managing Director at Elite Hotels commented: “We are proud to stand alongside the Accessible Hospitality Alliance in championing accessible hospitality.
“This partnership reflects our long-term commitment to creating welcoming environments across our hotels, where inclusivity, awareness and continuous improvement remain at the heart of what we do.”
Charlotte Evans, Group Partnerships Director, Accessible Hospitality Alliance said: “The Grand, Eastbourne’s commitment to accessibility is about more than intent, it’s about creating a hotel where everyone feels genuinely welcome.
“By turning insight into action, they’re helping shape a hospitality experience that benefits guests, teams, and everyone they welcome through their doors. We’re delighted to welcome them to the alliance.”
Accessible Hospitality Alliance brings together hospitality and catering operators with people who bring lived experience of disability, creating an environment where insight informs action.
Membership is exclusive to operators, each of whom appoints an Access Champion to listen, connect, and ensure accessibility is represented where decisions are made.
What is emerging is a community defined less by intent and more by action, where shared learning is applied within businesses to enhance guest experience, broaden workforce opportunity, and strengthen operational performance.
The Grand, Eastbourne’s membership adds to a steadily expanding alliance of operators, across both city and destination settings, who are moving with purpose towards a hospitality world that welcomes everyone.