WTM London, part of RX Global, has announced a landmark partnership with the Spanish Tourist Office, making it the event’s first-ever accessibility partner.
The collaboration aims to advance accessible travel through
industry cooperation, practical initiatives and measurable improvements across
the tourism sector.
The partnership will be showcased at WTM London 2026, where
a press conference will introduce Spain’s new campaign, ‘Spain; a country for
all’, and highlight progress made by the Spain for All accessibility advisory
panel.
The collaboration
will also introduce a new accessibility award and expand support for visitors
across the exhibition venue.
Spain for All was established by the Spanish Tourist Office
in the UK to help eliminate discrimination in tourism and promote Spain as an
inclusive destination where visitors can experience its culture, landscapes and
hospitality with autonomy, dignity and confidence. The initiative will now sit
under the wider ‘Spain; a country for all’ campaign, which aims to strengthen
the country’s reputation as an accessible and welcoming destination.
Central to the initiative is an advisory board comprising
more than 20 experts and leaders from the UK and Spanish travel industries,
including people with lived experience of disability.
The board promotes knowledge sharing, encourages
improvements and highlights best practices in accessible tourism.
The partnership seeks to use Spain’s experience in
accessible tourism and WTM London’s international reach to encourage higher
industry standards and demonstrate the benefits of inclusive travel for
visitors, destinations and businesses.
As part of the programme, advisory board members will
participate in the panel discussion Who Decides What's Accessible? Reframing
Travel Around Informed Choice on the Headliner Stage at 13:45 on 4 November.
They will also take part in the WTM Leaders’ Summit.
A dedicated press conference will take place at 15:00 on 3
November to present Spain’s campaign, key initiatives and a proposed roadmap
for industry-wide action. The new WTM Contribution to Accessibility award will
be presented in collaboration with the Spanish Tourist Office on the Headliner
Stage ahead of the event’s closing keynote.
Accessibility measures will also extend across the show
floor, supported by a newly appointed WTM steering group overseeing the event’s
accessibility commitments.
WTM London already provides accessible seating and ramps for
conference stages, on-screen closed captions, and real-time transcripts and
summaries through Rozie AI. Visitors can also access Reset Rooms behind both
halls for a quieter break, while Accessibility Buddy Tours offer assistance
navigating the exhibition.
The partnership represents a further step in WTM London’s
efforts to make the global travel industry more inclusive and translate
accessibility commitments into practical action.
Chris Carter-Chapman, WTM London Event Director said: “We
have long strived to embed inclusion across everything we do at WTM London, not
only on an operational level but as part of our conference programming. We are
delighted to take this further by welcoming our first accessibility partner.
“The Spanish Tourist Office has shown itself to be a leading
light in accessibility awareness within our sector. By teaming up, we can take
more practical steps to improve our own inclusivity and together we can
encourage others to do the same in their own businesses and destinations.”
José Manuel de Juan González, Director of the Spanish
Tourist Office (UK), said: “In Spain, we place great importance on
creating equal opportunities, reducing barriers and prejudice and making travel
accessible to all.
“This landmark agreement with World Travel Market reinforces
Spain’s commitment to more accessible and inclusive travel, with important
developments across the event’s governance, operations and programming.
“Over the past two years, our team has worked closely with
the Spain for All advisory board on accessibility learning from industry
experts, many with lived experience of disability, and sharing best practice
across the tourism sector to help drive meaningful progress.
“We are proud to bring this initiative to World Travel
Market, the UK’s leading travel exhibition, giving accessible travel the
platform and visibility it deserves and look forward to showcasing our new
global platform and campaign: ‘Spain, a country for all’ during the show.” -TradeArabia News Service