The event was led by Jamie Shields, co-founder of Disabled By Society, and featured inspiring presentations from sector professionals such as Bridgene Keeley, Director of Sales and Marketing at the McKeever Hotel Group, and Nisha Tandon, Chief Executive of ArtsEkta. Both shared practical and personal experiences on how to integrate accessibility into tourism management. Videos were also shown highlighting good practices implemented by Lavery’s Corner Bar, Titanic Belfast, and Ramada Wyndham Belfast—examples of how adapting the physical environment and training staff can transform the visitor experience.
A roundtable brought together representatives from emblematic tourist destinations—such as Exploris, Crumlin Road Gaol, Marble Arch Caves, McKeever Hotel Group, and Black Box Theatre—who discussed challenges and progress in accessibility. In this forum, Mark Thompson, Visitor Information Lead at Tourism NI, emphasized the need for consistency and clarity when communicating accessible information, while Eimear Davis, Major Events Lead, highlighted how accessibility was successfully integrated into The 153rd Open, held in July, demonstrating that even large-scale events can be inclusive with proper planning.
Beyond the discussions, Tourism Northern Ireland presented its new Inclusive and Accessible Tourism Toolkit, a practical guide offering businesses resources and advice to improve their facilities, services, and communication with people with disabilities. This toolkit, which includes recommendations on physical design and digital accessibility, aims to give businesses the confidence to advance along their own path to inclusion. Participating organizations will also have access to training modules on the MyTourismNI platform, where they can continue learning about accessibility and customer care.
For Eimear Callaghan, Head of Experience & Development at Tourism NI, “delivering an accessible and inclusive tourism experience for all our visitors is a fundamental priority.” Callaghan welcomed the high attendance and interest shown by local businesses, noting that “the sector’s commitment to accessibility demonstrates the desire to ensure that all visitors—regardless of their abilities or needs—receive the warm welcome for which Northern Ireland is known.”
Beyond its social dimension, accessible tourism also represents a tangible economic opportunity. Opening destinations to a broader audience not only strengthens the country’s image as an inclusive destination, but also expands the potential market and fosters visitor loyalty. People who encounter facilities and understanding during their stay tend to recommend the destination, creating a far-reaching positive effect.
The Antrim event thus symbolizes a strategic step forward in building truly inclusive tourism in Northern Ireland. It reinforces the message that accessibility is neither a one-off gesture nor a mere regulatory obligation, but an essential pillar of modern hospitality and sustainable development. With initiatives like this, Antrim’s tourism sector is consolidating its status as a benchmark for creating open, human, and universal experiences—where every visitor, without exception, can feel part of the story Northern Ireland wants to share with the world.
