True accessibility in travel means understanding the real barriers disabled travellers face and designing experiences that work for everyone. Deanne Moses-Wright, Cruise and Accessibility Specialist at Wheelie on the Waves, will be part of a panel session, “The accessible journey: Designing the whole visitor experience”, where she’ll share how disability awareness and lived experience can help identify barriers and ensure travel experiences are genuinely inclusive and welcoming.
Why accessible travel matters
Over 20% of the UK population identifies as disabled, yet many still face significant barriers when trying to travel. When accessible adaptions aren’t offered, it’s not just the disabled person who cannot travel – their family or group travelling party is also impacted. Being fully inclusive opens up 20% (plus) more revenue for travel businesses, yet many still underestimate the value that the purple pound brings to the economy.
Introducing Deanne Moses-Wright
As a wheelchair user, Deanne understands the barriers that the disabled community face when making travel arrangements. Whether it’s a day trip, group celebration, weekend break, or luxury family holiday, the ability to travel relies heavily upon every element being truly accessible. As a business owner, she sees the financial impact this has on the industry when these clients are not provided for.
Wheelie on the Waves was originally created to share Deanne’s cruising journey, but it quickly became a voice for those with limited mobility who are consistently facing barriers to travel safely and comfortably. By collaborating with industry leaders, she has helped to make changes and give disabled people a voice.
Can you tell us more about your business and what it does?
Deanne: “I look after all travel requirements for my clients, specialising in cruise bookings for the disabled community. I also collaborate with travel partners and cruise lines, to ensure travel is truly accessible.”
What are the most rewarding and challenging aspects of your job?
Deanne: “Ensuring people have access to safe and comfortable travel to open up the world to them, giving them the confidence to visit new cities, countries and enjoy new experiences is beyond rewarding, but ensuring that everything is truly accessible and not just a tick box exercise is extremely challenging.”
What’s the best advice you’ve been given, and what’s your key takeaway of the year so far?
Deanne: “Don’t assume that because something says it’s accessible that it is! There is a long way to go to make travel accessible for all. Some businesses are open to conversation and are willing to make adjustments as they value all clients, others don’t appreciate the value that the purple pound brings to the economy.”
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?
Deanne: “Collaborating with travel providers and sharing the importance of inclusion. Having so many suppliers in one place, sharing the UK’s highlights and gathering information as well as listening to representatives from the travelling community.”
What can visitors expect to learn from your session, and what advice would you give tour operators and group travel organisers?
Deanne: “The impact of being truly inclusive and the monetary value that will have on their business. Include everyone!”
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the group tourism industry, and what trends do you see for 2026 and beyond?
Deanne: “Not being inclusive. Be truly accessible to all. Not offering accessible adaptions, not only means the disabled person cannot travel, but also their family or group travelling party. Being fully inclusive, opening up 20% (plus) more revenue. Accessible travel is becoming more and more important, with social media often highlighting the lack of accessibility and what impact that has. With many disabled clients using mobility aids not wanting to fly, the UK travel industry needs to step up to be truly accessible, and take advantage of the huge amount of money waiting to be spent by the disabled community!”
Learn from accessibility experts at BTTS 2026
Deanne will be part of a panel session alongside Peter Quick from No Boundaries Disability Consultancy Ltd, 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 the chance to hear from these experts, and other sessions at BTTS 2026 on 19 March at NEC Birmingham. Register for free today and learn how to make your travel offering genuinely inclusive.