The Business Travel Association (BTA) has launched an Inclusive Business Travel Guide for its member travel management companies (TMCs).
The guide is designed to improve confidence, knowledge and standards when supporting travellers with accessibility needs.
According to the association, 87% of disabled travellers say accessibility affects their ability to travel for work, with common challenges including inconsistent step-free access, unsuitable hotel facilities, missed announcements and alerts, and car rental options that do not meet specific needs.
The guide has been created to support travel consultants in addressing these issues at the point of booking.
It includes insights into assisting travellers across mobility, visual impairments, hearing loss, hidden disabilities and neurodivergent needs, best practice guidance, suggested questions for consultants to initiate conversations along with a reference glossary of hidden disabilities.
It was developed in partnership with a specialist working group and the Thomas Pocklington Trust, a national sight loss charity.
The BTA said it will be developing further tools and resources for members and will work with suppliers to improve the booking experience.
Clive Wratten, BTA CEO, said: “The business travel industry has long needed a resource like this to support all those travelling for business, no matter their specific requirements. We are incredibly proud to provide this guide, and we hope it empowers those with accessibility needs to travel with greater confidence and dignity, safe in the knowledge that our TMC members are fully equipped to support them at every stage in their journey.”
Contributors to the guide include Tiffany Casson from Inntel, Jo McNicol from BCD Travel and Mark Hipkiss from Navan, bringing expertise in neurodiversity, wheelchair user travel experience and disability and inclusion training respectively.
Two versions of the guide have been published. One is a standard PDF and the other, a Microsoft Word format, and both are optimised for screen readers with adjustable accessibility settings.
