Join us for an engaging evening of industry insight as we explore accessibility, inclusion and visitor experience within the tourism, hospitality and events industries. Through lived experience and real-world case studies, this event will highlight how tourism, hospitality and events professionals and organisations are working to create more accessible experiences for all visitors.
The evening will feature a keynote presentation by Oliver Hunter, a disability advocate and podcaster fresh off his run at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. His keynote speech, Making It Work – Navigating a World Not Built for You, draws on his own personal experiences navigating tourism, travel and everyday environments with a disability.
Attendees will also hear from industry representatives who will share practical case studies about accessibility initiatives they have undertaken within their own organisations, highlighting how accessibility considerations can be incorporated into planning, design and visitor experience delivery in meaningful and achievable ways.
The presentations will cover:
- The importance of designing inclusive visitor experiences
- Real-world examples of accessibility initiatives in action
- Practical ways to improve accessibility within the industry
- How tourism, hospitality and events professionals can incorporate accessibility into their own roles and organisations
Designed for professionals, emerging industry leaders, educators and students, this event offers the opportunity to gain practical insights, hear directly from people working in this space, and connect with peers and industry colleagues.
Meet the Speakers:
Oliver Hunter - Keynote Speaker
Living with cerebral palsy and using a wheelchair, Oliver has a different view of the world around him (literally - he’s lower). Performing stand up comedy - although he’s never actually stood up - Oliver has been cracking jokes about disability for over 10 years. Entertaining crowds from all major cities in Australia to Dallas, Seattle and L.A in the United States. While not wearing his comedian hat, Oliver is a disability awareness consultant and advocate, keynote speaker and podcast host, always aiming to break down barriers and improve the lives of all people living with a disability. In other words: “the guy you get when you can’t afford Dylan Alcott”.
Business Case Study Presentations:
Sasina Chomsuwan - Customer Service Manager at The District Docklands
Hear from Sasina, Customer Service Manager at The District Docklands, about the development of The District's Urban Art Experience - a free, accessible, self-guided journey launching at The District Docklands. Designed as an inclusive experience for all, The District's Urban Art Experience incorporates tactile elements, audio guides, braille plaques, and ongoing sensory developments, inviting visitors to see, hear, and feel art in their own unique way. In this session, Sasina will share insights into their journey of making the attraction a truly inclusive public art experience.
Zangi Dinh - PhD Researcher and Learning Facilitator at Torrens University
Zangi is a pracademic who combines extensive industry experience with academic scholarship in tourism and hospitality. With several years of experience in senior leadership roles within the hotel industry and a current position in higher education, Zangi bridges the gap between industry practice and academic research. In this presentation, Zangi discusses how the pursuit of visual appeal can sometimes come at the expense of accessibility and inclusion. Too often, accessibility is considered too late in the design process, resulting in beautifully curated experiences that unintentionally exclude guests with disabilities. Zangi challenges hospitality professionals to rethink what "good experience design" really means and invites a shift from purely visual appeal to holistic guest experiences that are seamless, meaningful and accessible - because exceptional hospitality should never come with barriers.
Jacinta O'Malley - Senior Event Producer and Access and Inclusion Lead at City of Melbourne
For more than a decade, Jacinta has produced events and activations for the City of Melbourne, including major programs such as Melbourne Fashion Week and the Moomba Festival. Throughout this work, she has co-led Access and Inclusion initiatives, collaborating closely with the branch to ensure events, activations, and experiences are welcoming, inclusive, and accessible for people of all abilities. Jacinta will showcase examples of services and initiatives delivered across the city’s most popular events, highlighting the why, the how, the impact of each and how you can implement these into your own business services.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday 1 July
Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: Garden State Hotel (The Observatory - Top Floor), 101 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Cost: Free for YTN Members, $20 for non-members (includes welcome drink & nibbles)
Accessibility Information:
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible event environment.
The venue is accessible via lift, with accessible toilets available within the event space.
If you have accessibility requirements or require assistance to attend, please contact us when registering for the event so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Don’t forget to download the The Pass app to unlock your exclusive YTN member discount on food and drink purchases on the night and across all Australian Venue Co. locations, available for use anytime.
For more information, check out the Membership Discounts section in the YTN member portal
The Tourism Ambassador Events are supported by the Victorian Government.
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