The Meetings Industry Association launches essential guidance on creating accessible events

The Meeting Industry Association (MIA) has launched new guidance on Accessible Events to help professionals across the UK business meetings and events sector create truly inclusive and accessible experiences for all.

Developed in collaboration with Gabrielle Austen-Browne, Founder of Diversity Alliance – a leading diversity, equity and inclusion consultancy – the guide provides comprehensive, practical advice to support members in meeting their legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and embedding accessibility best practice into everyday operations.

Launched on Purple Tuesday 2025, a global initiative to improve accessibility and the customer experience for disabled people, the guide explores how to remove barriers for delegates, speakers and employees with disabilities, offering actionable steps to ensure that everyone can participate fully in meetings and events. It highlights both the moral and business case for accessibility, demonstrating that inclusive design benefits every attendee, enhances reputation and drives greater engagement across the sector.

The Equality Act 2010 is the UK’s foundational anti-discrimination law, protecting individuals from unfair treatment across nine characteristics, including disability. It places a duty on service providers including hotels, venues and event organisers, to make reasonable adjustments for those with physical or mental impairments.

By launching this new resource, the MIA continues its commitment to supporting members with practical tools and guidance to improve standards, promote inclusivity and strengthen the UK’s reputation as a world-leading destination for meetings and events.

MIA chief executive, Shonali Devereaux, said: “Accessibility is so much more than a legal requirement. As an industry built on connection, inclusivity should sit at the heart of everything we do to ensure that everyone can fully participate in and enjoy the many wonderful experiences our sector works hard to create. This guide has been designed to help our members navigate their legal responsibilities under the Equality Act and take proactive steps to remove barriers and raise awareness, empathy and understanding across our community.”

Gabrielle Austen-Brown, Founder of Diversity Alliance, said: “Every day, event professionals create experiences that can change minds, facilitate connections and drive real social impact. Yet when we fail to consider accessibility from the outset, we impoverish the entire experience, not just for disabled attendees, but for everyone.

‘Access for All’ provides the practical framework our industry needs to bridge the gap between good intentions and meaningful action. When we embed accessibility from the start rather than retrofit it as an afterthought, we don’t just include more people, we create better events for everyone.”