The aha Forum in Partnership with Thomas Franks
Wednesday 11th June 14.00 – 19.45
The Urban Farmer Project, Shoe Lane, City of London, EC4A 3JR
14.00 – 14.20: ARRIVAL AND REGISTRATION
On arrival guests will be greeted at and registered at reception.
Refreshments
- Tea, Coffee, Water
- Hint of Mint Smoothie Shots
- Crudites, Butterbean Hummus, Seeded Cracker
14.20 – Guests will be invited to take their seats in the main room.
14.30: OPENING
14.30: Opening of event by Denis Sheehan FIH
Denis is Managing Director and co-founder of Accessible Hospitality Alliance, Publisher of Hospitality & Catering News, Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality.
Introduction of event MC Paul Vaughan
Paul enjoyed a successful lifetime working in the beer, sport and hospitality industries, most notably as CEO of England Rugby 2015 the organisation that delivered the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Paul is currently Business Development Director, Accessible Hospitality Alliance.
14.40: INTERVIEW
14.40 – 14-55: Piers Zangana to interview Robin Sheppard.
Piers is Director at Susa Comms, a strategic communications and PR business. A journalist by trade, Piers is also a Fellow at Society of Leadership Fellows, and Founder of the Persian Hospitality Network & Cook For Iran.
Robin Sheppard is chair and co-founder of Accessible Hospitality Alliance, and President and co-founder of Bespoke Hotels the UK’s largest independent hotel group. Robin is also former chair of the Institute of Hospitality.
14.55 – 15.00: Q&A.
15.00 – 15.05: Gather Feedback and Social Moment.
15.05 – 15.45: ROUNDTABLES
Six roundtables that will address the following discussions. All roundtables take place simultaneously.
a) Transforming Hospitality Through the Power of Lived Experience – Led by Shelley Cowan
Shelley is a disability researcher and advocator of inclusive futures for all, she is an international keynote speaker as well as a member of the Accessible Hospitality Alliance Advisory Board.
b) Developing and Maintaining Accessible Culture – Led by James Dixon-Box MIH
James is Operations Director, Marsham Court Hotel, a Charity Trustee, and a member of the Accessible Hospitality Alliance Advisory Board.
c) Hospitality by Definition is Accessible and Inclusive – Led by Kellie Rixon MBE FIH
Kellie is General Manager, The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa, a columnist for Hospitality & Catering News, and former chair of the Institute of Hospitality. Kellie is also a member of the Accessible Hospitality Alliance Advisory Board.
d) Owning the Accessibility Journey: Honest Dialogue and Personal Reflections – Led by Ross Calladine
Ross Calladine is the Accessibility and Inclusion Lead for VisitEngland, developing and leading initiatives that help tourism businesses and destinations tap into the high value, growing accessible and inclusive tourism market.
Ross convenes England’s Inclusive Tourism Action Group comprising leading accessible tourism stakeholders and has led the development of best-in-class accessibility toolkits for tourism businesses and destinations. Ross has also developed pioneering frameworks and development models that have been implemented to drive measurable improvements in tourism accessibility.
As an authority on accessible tourism, Ross was appointed Disability and Access Ambassador for Tourism by the UK Government in January 2022.
Ross is a member of the Accessible Hospitality Alliance Advisory Board.
e) The Business of Accessibility – Led by Paul Vaughan, Event MC
15.45 – 16.05: Each of the roundtable leaders present synopsis of discussion points to all delegates
16.05 – 16.15: Q&A to Roundtable Leaders
16.15 – 16.20: Gather Feedback and Social Moment
16.20 – 16.50: AFTERNOON TEA
- Tea, Coffee, Soft Drinks, Juices
- Lemon Meringue Tart
- Victoria Sandwich Shortbread
- Mini Scones, Raspberry Jam, Clotted Cream
16.50 – 17.25 PANEL GROUP DISCUSSION
Panel Discussion – The Inclusive Workplace: Chaired by Kellie Rixon MBE FIH
Panel Members
- Professor Peter A Jones, MBE, DSc(Hon), MPhil, BSc(Hons), FCGI, FIH, FRACA
Professor Peter A Jones has enjoyed a varied professional career, in a range of army, industry and higher education appointments. He is a published academic and edited a number of academic and professional journals. He has chaired and been a member of professional and government bodies in the UK, Australia and Lithuania. His professional projects have included as the Project Director for the development of the Edge Hotel School.
He is currently Chair of the Professional Review Panel of the Institute of Hospitality, Chair of Gate College Academic Council (Nepal), Board Advisor of the International Association of Hotel Schools (EUHOFA), Academic Director of eHotelier, and a Trustee of the Savoy Educational Trust.
Professor Jones also Chairs Crumbs, a disability charity that provides hospitality education and training for adults with learning and mental health disabilities.
He was made Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to the hospitality industry.
Professor Jones is also a member of the Accessible Hospitality Alliance Advisory Board.
- Richmal Maybank
Richmal is Employment Lead at Autism Action, where she leads national work to close the autism employment gap and improve workplace inclusion. Richmal is also the founder of Seats at the Table, a consultancy focused on neuroinclusive access in customer experiences. She is an Accessible Hospitality Alliance Ambassador and has served on the Accessibility Board at The O2.
- James Dixon-Box MIH
17.25 – 17.30: Questions to the panel.
17.30 – 17.35: Gather Feedback and Social Moment
17.35 – 17.45: VisitEngland – Ross Calladine – A Collective Next Step with Support from VisitEngland: Improving Accessibility Information
17.45 – 17.50 – Q&A
17.50 – 18.00: KEYNOTE
Michael McGrath MBE – The business of leadership in accessible hospitality.
At 18yrs, Michael’s dream of becoming the GM of The Savoy Hotel was halted by a diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy (MD). Oxford Brookes Alumnus (Hospitality Management, Class of 1988). disABILITY Champion Hilton Hotels UK & Ireland (2004-2008). Paralympic Torchbearer (London 2012). Founder & CEO UK’s Leading Experiential Muscular Dystrophy Family Charity (Muscle Help Foundation). Record Breaking Polar Adventurer. Professional Speaker. Disability Advocate. Included in Power 100 list for four consecutive years (from 2019) as one of Britain’s most influential people with a disability. Advisory Board Member, Accessible Hospitality Alliance (2025).
18.00 – 18.05: Questions to Michael.
18.05 – 18.10: Gather Feedback and Social Moment
CLOSING ADDRESS
Frank Bothwell – Owner & Founder, Thomas Franks
Frank Bothwell founded Thomas Franks with his wife Emma in 2004, using their vast experience in hospitality to realise the dream of a family-run company. Spotting a gap in the market, Frank brought high-quality, fresh and nutritious food with personality to independent schools and head offices across the country. Through word of mouth and strong relationship building, Frank has quietly grown his business into the international, award-winning company it is today.
Quality and relationships have always been key to Frank, building partnerships with clients that have spanned decades and investing in the next generation of talent to promote hospitality as an attractive career. A family man through and through, Frank has seen every aspect of the industry change with unprecedented challenges – but he has stayed true to his original vision: a legacy business delivering value for clients with sustainable, local supply chains, charity, community and employee wellbeing at its heart.
Robin Sheppard – Chair and Co-Founder, Accessible Hospitality Alliance
Denis Sheehan – Managing Director and Co-Founder, Accessible Hospitality Alliance
FOOD, DRINKS & Live Performance by Emmanuel Kelly
Food
- Poached Atlantic cod, yeasted cauliflower, caper raisin vinaigrette
- Pan roasted lamb rump, peas, broad beans, lemon vinaigrette
- Roasted beetroot, avocado jalapeno crema, pickled red onion, puffed quinoa
- Coconut mousse, passion fruit curd, Alphonso mango
Champagne – Courtesy of our Drinks Sponsor – Hatch Mansfield
- Taittinger Brut Reserve
Wines – Courtesy of our Drinks Sponsor – Hatch Mansfield
- Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Sauvignon Blanc, Chile
- Errazuriz Wild Ferment Pinot Noir, Chile
A selection of Mocktails courtesy of our Sponsor – Alfresco
Live performance by Emmanuel Kelly
In 2024, Emmanuel became the first physically differently-abled artist to perform to stadium crowds when he opened for Coldplay on their record-breaking “Music Of The Spheres” world tour.
His single “My Sky” garnered over 30 Million views on TikTok and his limited edition EP “No Zodiac” was released to critical acclaim, voted into the Top Ten Australian releases by Rolling Stone magazine, reaching No. 3 in the vinyl charts.
Spotify ranks Emmanuel in the Top 30 of the most globally influential artists to come out of Australia.
19.45: Event Closes
The team at Accessible Hospitality Alliance would like to thank all our sponsors for their incredible support and backing.
