Issue 62

Accessibility
Toolkit for Tourism
Businesses
VISITENGLAND HAS launched its new
‘Accessible and Inclusive Toolkit’ for tourism
businesses which includes guidance on
providing an inclusive welcome, designing
accessible buildings, employing disabled
people and creating quality accessibility
information.
Tourism minister Sir John Whittingdale
said: “It is the government’s ambition for
the UK to become the most accessible
tourism destination in Europe by 2025, as
set out in our Tourism Recovery Plan. I very
much support the new toolkit and hope for
it to become the go-to resource for visitor
economy businesses across England.”
The free toolkit includes case studies,
top 20 tips and downloadable business
specific checklists to plan and prioritise
improvements. Visit www.visitbritain.org/
business-advice
Canopy & Stars
Acquires Crown
& Canopy
THE SAWDAY’S group of travel brands,
which includes Canopy & Stars, has
acquired a leading glamping consultancy,
Crown & Canopy known for the planning
and delivery of bespoke glamping spaces
across the UK. Crown & Canopy has
been a long-standing partner of Canopy
& Stars and its purchase will allow
the expansion of the holiday agency’s
consultancy offering, including advising
owners on funding routes, and extending
RIBA architect design services to develop
innovative and sustainable build projects.
Mike Bevens, managing director at
the Sawday’s Group, says: “We have a
long-standing partnership with Ed and his
team at Crown & Canopy, and we’re really
excited to see how by joining forces we
can strengthen our consultancy offering
and build a bright and sustainable future
for glamping in the UK and beyond.”
Purple Guide Environmental Sustainability Chapter
THE PURPLE Guide’s new Environmental Sustainability chapter is a concise
overview, signposting areas of best practice for outdoor events. It will help guide the
industry to its aim of reaching Net Zero by 2030.
The best practices championed in The Purple Guide have become accepted as
industry standard for organisers, local authorities and suppliers, to comply with
legislation and create safe events.
It is hoped the guidance across the Environmental Sustainability chapter will
similarly become a standardised part of everyone’s event plans and drive a shift to
create a more environmentally sustainable events sector.
The content was created by Vision: 2025, a network of over 500 events taking
climate action. www.thepurpleguide.co.uk
Dragon’s Den Investment
GLAMPING ENTREPRENEUR Derry Green impressed on the BBC’s
Dragon’s Den reality show to secure £100,000 investment for 5% of
his business, Secret Garden Glamping, from Deborah Meaden.
Derry says: “The Secret Garden Glamping is a project I started
with my children in lockdown of 2020 as a place in the garden for
us to spend our time. We are now the most viewed, most followed,
and most booked glamping site in the UK, with nearly half a
billion views online and being fully booked for around two years
in advance. I went on the show to see if I could take my ‘dad build’
with the kids to a national audience and it was one of the greatest
experiences of my life.
Derry will use the investment to develop further sites across
the UK.
4 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM