Accessibility is becoming an increasingly critical aspect of corporate travel management. At Festive Road, we’re dedicated to creating a better industry and we believe it’s crucial to address this issue. Recently, Louise Kilgannon, Head of Outsourcing, was invited to host an ITM Buyer Knowledge Exchange session on Accessibility in Travel. This session provided travel managers with valuable insights and actionable recommendations for enhancing their travel programmes, aiming to better serve all employees, including those with disabilities. Here are the 8 key takeaways and recommendations from the session:
1. Engage Stakeholders
To develop and refine accessibility policies effectively, it’s essential to collaborate with key stakeholders, including HR, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DE&I) teams, and external organisations like the Business Disability Forum. These collaborations ensure that your travel programme aligns with broader organisational goals and that you have the support necessary to implement comprehensive accessibility practices. Note that knowledge, understanding and awareness may vary across different markets or regions.
2. Leverage Internal Networks
Understanding the specific needs of your travellers is crucial to creating an inclusive travel experience. By identifying and connecting with internal accessibility networks, you can gain valuable insights and feedback. These networks can guide you in crafting travel policies that truly address the needs of all employees.
3. Review Language and Communication
The language and format of your travel policies and communications can significantly impact their accessibility. It’s important to use inclusive and neutral language, avoid assumptions about travellers’ abilities, and ensure that all communications are available in accessible formats. This not only supports employees with disabilities but also fosters a more inclusive organisational culture.
4. Focus on Accommodations
When addressing accessibility, it’s important to focus on identifying and removing barriers rather than concentrating on the disability itself. This approach empowers travellers to express their needs confidently and receive the necessary support without feeling singled out or uncomfortable. The goal is to create an environment where all travellers feel supported and included.
5. Engage Suppliers
Your suppliers play a critical role in the travel experience. Regularly discussing accessibility with them ensures they understand your requirements and can offer the necessary support. Engaging with suppliers on accessibility matters can lead to improved services and more consistent, positive experiences for travellers.
6. Start the Conversation
Improving accessibility doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Begin by making small, meaningful changes and build on these over time. By taking incremental steps, you can gradually enhance your travel programme’s accessibility, making it more inclusive without the need for a perfect, one-size-fits-all solution from the start.
7. Useful Resources
For travel managers looking to improve their accessibility practices, the session highlighted several valuable resources, including the Business Disability Forum and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme. These platforms provide guidance and tools to help implement the best practices discussed during the session.
8. WCAG Compliance
Travel programmes should ensure that customer-facing technology complies with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines set the industry standard for software accessibility, ensuring that individuals with disabilities can fully access and use digital tools and platforms. Achieving WCAG compliance not only fulfils legal and ethical responsibilities but also enhances the overall user experience for all travellers.
Louise Kilgannon, Head of Outsourcing commented,“The main takeaway from this session was about the importance of removing barriers for those travellers with accessibility requirements. It was great to hear about the measures taken by many of the companies on the buyer exchange session. For anyone unsure of where to start, there were plenty of tips on the right internal and external stakeholders to engage; you don’t have to be the foremost expert to get started.”
Note: Full notes from the session are available via the ITM website for members or join here to access.
FESTIVE ROAD is the only people-first and people-led company providing consulting and outsourcing services for global travel, meetings and expense programmes. Our purpose is to create better programmes for our clients, workplace for our people, and thought leadership for our industry.
