Making travel accessible doesn’t require excessive costs – often, small practical changes can make facilities more welcoming to disabled customers and unlock significant new revenue. In this panel session “The Accessible Journey: Designing the whole visitor experience”, Peter Quick, Director of Training at No Boundaries Disability Consultancy Ltd, will share how businesses can recognise the commercial value of the Purple Pound and implement changes that make a real difference.
Why accessibility makes business sense
Over 20% of the UK population identifies as disabled, representing substantial purchasing power often referred to as the Purple Pound. Yet many travel businesses struggle to attract this market, not because they don’t want to, but because they don’t know what changes to make. As Peter says, “You don’t know what you don’t know.”
Introducing Peter Quick
Peter joined the RAF as a Nursing Officer in 1999, following 15 years as an NHS Charge Nurse. He qualified as a paediatric, general and psychiatric nurse, with specialist qualifications in emergency nursing and prehospital care. As an RAF Nursing Officer, Peter worked in UK hospitals, Cyprus, and on the Aeromed Squadron travelling the world. Peter served in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Following an injury caused by service, and acquiring a lifelong disability, Peter left the RAF in 2013. He has worked in healthcare regulation and governance, school nursing, and is now the Director of Training at No Boundaries Disability Consultancy Ltd.
Can you tell us more about your business and what it does?
Peter: “My wife and I set up our company in 2024 to raise disability awareness. We offer accessibility audits, disability awareness training, and secret shopper. We make our training immersive and interactive so that companies can get a real appreciation what it is like to have a particular disability, because after all, you don’t know, what you don’t know and No Boundaries Disability Consultancy Ltd can help bring disability into the spotlight.
We were both injured whilst serving in the Royal Air Force and found that accessibility, both in public and the workplace, lacked an understanding of those who are disabled. We were both nurses in the RAF and have a wide and varied knowledge of many complex injuries, especially affecting mobility, long term neurological conditions, including acquired brain injuries, as well as mental health and neurodiversity conditions. We want to teach companies, regardless of their sector and size, that small changes can be made which will improve accessibility.”
What are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your job?
Peter: “The most rewarding aspect of our job is getting to meet enthusiastic people who do want to make a change and make their environment more accessible and inclusive.
The most challenging aspect we have found so far, is trying to get past HR departments when approaching businesses, offering our services on disability awareness training and accessibility audits. Also, trying to explain to companies how e-learning is nowhere near as effective as face to face.”
What’s the best advice you’ve been given, and what’s your key takeaway of the year so far?
Peter: “To provide companies with what they want, and not sell what we think they want. My key takeaway is perseverance, as we want to improve accessibility for all.”
What are you most looking forward to at BTTS 2026, and why do you think it’s a must-attend event for those who organise group travel?
Peter: “I’m looking forward to the chance to meet many people from different companies and organisations; Everyone has a story to tell! This event is an excellent way to see how we can all benefit from working together.”
What can visitors expect to learn from your session, and what advice would you give tour operators and group travel organisers?
Peter: “We know that many people with disabilities want to travel and explore. We want to show how small changes can help you to get some of the ‘Purple Pound’.
Make those small changes that can make your facilities more accessible. Make use of disability and access consultancies to help you make those changes, without excessive costs.”
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the group tourism industry today?
Peter: “We always remember: ‘You don’t know what you don’t know’. It is often difficult to know why we don’t attract certain groups to our sector. Market research needs to target the people that we aren’t reaching already. Attracting those people or groups of people we haven’t already reached.”
What do you see as key tourism trends for 2026 and beyond?
Peter: “Short family breaks and city trips.”
Which single change for disability access can companies make which offers a good return of investment?
Peter: “Staff training should include the needs of people with a variety of disabilities; confident staff results in good reviews and repeat bookings.”
Learn from accessibility experts at BTTS 2026
Peter will be part of a panel session alongside Deanne Moses-Wright from Wheelie on the Waves and Tess Pike, Blue Badge Guide, and James Dixon-Box, Disability & Access Ambassador. Together, they’ll explore how operators, destinations and guides can better support travellers with varied needs, discussing the impact of clear pre-visit information, personalised itineraries and inclusivity across the whole visitor journey.
Don’t miss this panel discussion at BTTS 2026 on 19 March at NEC Birmingham. Register for free today and discover how small changes can unlock the Purple Pound.