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I recently attended The Business of Events Policy Forum at IET London: Savoy Place, where one session, led by Dr Shani Dhanda, particularly stood out.
It focused on accessibility in the events industry and challenged delegates to rethink accessibility not as a compliance exercise, but as a commercial opportunity and a fundamental part of delivering exceptional delegate experiences. One statistic was impossible to ignore:
93% of disabled delegates still experience barriers when attending events.
That figure alone should make every event organiser, procurement professional and venue stop and ask: Are we truly designing events for everyone?
The session highlighted that accessibility isn’t simply about meeting legal obligations. It’s about creating experiences that are inclusive from the very beginning of the planning process. When organisations do this well, the benefits extend far beyond compliance:
Perhaps the most striking message was that almost one-third of event attendees have a disability, making accessibility a key driver of audience growth.
Accessibility extends beyond visible disabilities. It’s equally important to consider the needs of delegates with hidden disabilities, many of whom may not feel comfortable disclosing them. This includes neurodivergence, which is said to affect up to one in five people. In fact, research from Birkbeck, University of London, found that 65% of neurodivergent employees feared discrimination from their managers if they disclosed their condition.
The discussion also highlighted where delegates continue to face challenges:
Over half say accessibility information is only sometimes clear, while many find it missing altogether.
These statistics demonstrate that there remains a significant gap between good intentions and the actual delegate experience.
Creating inclusive events begins at the venue sourcing stage. Asking the right questions, understanding delegate needs, providing clear accessibility information and selecting venues that genuinely support inclusive experiences can make a significant difference.
At Inntel, our award-winning Meetings & Events team works with customers to ensure accessibility is considered throughout the planning process rather than treated as an afterthought.
We’ve created an Inclusive Meetings and Events Checklist to help clients consider inclusivity from the outset. A copy is available to download from our Resources page.
Our venue sourcing specialists help organisations:
As one of the UK’s leading independent meetings and events specialists, we know that successful events are those where every attendee can participate fully and confidently.
Accessibility isn’t just about removing barriers. It’s about opening doors.
I’d like to thank The Business of Events Policy Forum for bringing this important topic into the spotlight. It’s a conversation our industry must continue and, more importantly, turn into meaningful action.
Sharon Bannister is Head of MICE Sales & Account Management at Inntel and joined the company in 2026. Sharon has worked in the meetings, incentives, conference and events industry for more than 20 years. She is the past MICE Chair of the Business Travel Association (BTA) and board member of the Meetings Industry Association (mia).