Accessibility – Ramp it Up
As Caterer launches a major new awareness campaign, we examine the financial rewards available for those who embrace accessibility and offer simple and affordable steps to broadening your appeal
Imagine your business could tap into a growing market with a loyal customer base. Clearly you'd be interested. So it is astonishing that hospitality businesses still overlook the benefits that improving their accessibility will bring. To raise awareness of the enormous opportunity and to offer advice on how to make the most of it for minimal cost, Caterer is launching the Accessibility: Ramp it Up campaign.
The market is massive even before considering the huge business opportunity offered by next year's Paralympic Games. When travelling, those with disabilities tend to stay longer and spend more than average. Not only that but they often travel with friends, family or carers. Can you really afford to miss out on a market estimated to be worth £2bn?
There are 11 million people with disabilities in the UK - around one in five people. International visitors with a health condition or impairment spend some £300m a year. What many businesses miss is that by adopting a few simple, affordable measures they can open up their operation to this new audience. Making small adjustments can make a big difference to a market that is intensely loyal to businesses that can meet its needs.
As part of Caterer's campaign, we will provide tips, case studies and practical advice. We will be working with accessibility experts to bring you guidance and will be looking at businesses that are leading the way. So look out for the Ramp It Up logo, as it will be your guide to an accessible and profitable future.
IN NUMBERS
£2b… size of the UK disability market
£300m… amount spent by international visitors with a health condition or impairment
11 million… people with disabilities in England
78 million… American and 75 million European disabled visitors, friends and family
Over 55… by 2025 more than a third of the UK's population will be over 55
An accessible attitude…
â- Understands that accessibility and quality go hand in hand
â- Sees the person, not the disability
Arnold Fewell gives his own personal insight into life in hospitality as a wheelchair user in his Access All Areas blog.
