Twelve Access Champions from Accessible Hospitality Alliance member organisations came together last week at Kimpton Fitzroy London for the first meeting of The Access Champions Collective.
They arrived from different businesses, carrying different responsibilities, but with something in common.
Each has been given responsibility for accessibility within their organisation.
It doesn’t sit in one place. It moves across operations, design, colleague experience and guest experience.
The Collective has been created to give those individuals a place to talk openly about that experience with others doing the same.
The first meeting reflected that intention.
There was no focus on outputs or conclusions. Instead, the group used the time to establish a shared understanding of what the Collective should be, and how it should operate.
Three Access Champions were selected by the group to act as initial stewards: Ian Bartlett, Head of Built Environment at Swinton Estate; James Dixon-Box, Operations Director at Marsham Court Hotel; and Hannah Myles MCIEH, Group Health and Safety Manager at Clermont Hotel Group.
Their role is to enable participation as the Collective develops, with stewardship designed to rotate over time.
The organisations represented at the first meeting were:
- Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club
- Clermont Hotel Group
- Foxhills Country Club & Resort
- Holistic Thinking Holidays
- Kimpton Fitzroy London
- Marsham Court Hotel
- Pan Pacific London
- Savore
- Swinton Estate
- The Grand, Eastbourne
- Thomas Franks
- Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens
The Collective will continue to meet online, alongside in-person gatherings, with a shared knowledge environment being developed to enable ongoing exchange between members.
The first meeting did not produce a set of outcomes.
It did, however, establish something more fundamental.
A space where those responsible for accessibility in hospitality businesses can speak openly about the realities of doing so.
And, in doing that, begin to move forward together.
Access Champions from the Collective will contribute to The aha Forum, in Partnership with Thomas Franks, which takes place at Barings on Tuesday 9 June 2026.
Both London forums in 2025 sold out in advance, as did the recent forum in Malta. A limited number of tickets are available at £295 + VAT.
Tickets are available exclusively to hospitality and catering operators.
Complete the form here and a member of the aha team will respond promptly.