One in four people in Northern Ireland are disabled Across the UK, disabled consumers represent a spending power of £249 billion. Yet three out of four disabled people have walked away from businesses because they weren’t accessible.
Now in its third year, Embrace the Inclusive Spirit is empowering tourism and hospitality businesses to welcome more disabled visitors – because inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes smart business sense.
Led by Belfast City Council as part of its Make Yourself at Home ten-year tourism strategy, and supported by partners including Visit Belfast, Tourism NI, Titanic Belfast and Open Arts, the programme includes:
- Awards recognising excellence in tourism businesses
- An annual seminar
- A practical support toolkit
- Online training videos
- Hands-on workshops to boost confidence in communicating with disabled guests
- Suggested itineraries created with local disabled people
Embrace the Inclusive Spirit 2026 Seminar
Tuesday 17 February, 2026, 9am to 2pm
The third annual Embrace the Inclusive Spirit seminar will take place from 9am to 2pm on Tuesday 17 February 2026 at Titanic Belfast, 1 Olympic Way, Belfast, BT3 9EP.
This half-day event will equip businesses with practical tools and insights to grow their disabled visitor market and create exceptional inclusive experiences.
The event will be hosted by Jamie Shields, co-founding director of Disabled by Society. Jamie brings powerful lived experience as an Autistic, ADHD and registered blind advocate committed to breaking down the barriers in society that disable people.
Jamie will be joined by special guests:
- Emer Maguire, one of NI’s brightest comedy talents, fresh from her sold-out show at the Grand Opera House. Emer is taking a break from her tour to share her signature blend of incisive humour and heartfelt insight into life and travel as an Autistic adult.
- Cathelijne Denekamp, accessibility and inclusion manager at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Cathelijne has helped transform how visitors of all abilities experience one of the world’s most iconic museums. She will share practical ideas and proven strategies for creating environments where everyone feels welcomed, valued and able to fully enjoy their visit.
Tickets are free but limited and can be booked online.
Embrace the Inclusive Spirit Tourism Awards
Nominations will close on Sunday 18 January 2026
Embrace the Inclusive Spirit Tourism Awards celebrate the excellent work Belfast’s tourism industry does to welcome disabled visitors.
If you know a tourism business in Belfast providing exceptional service for disabled visitors, you can nominate them in the following categories:
- Most useful visitor information
- Warmest welcome
- Best stay
- Most inclusive experience
- Going the extra mile
You can use this form nominate a business for an award.
The form is also available in BSL and ISL.
Nominations close at 11.59pm on Sunday 18 January 2026.
Winners will be announced at the Embrace the Inclusive Spirit 2026 seminar on Tuesday 17 February.