The Accessible Hospitality Alliance (aha) is proud to announce that Robert Richardson FIH MI, Chief Executive of the Institute of Hospitality, has joined its Advisory Board.
Richardson leads the Institute of Hospitality, the global professional body for managers and aspiring managers working across hospitality, leisure, and tourism.
His appointment to the aha Advisory Board reflects the Alliance’s growing momentum, following other recent high-profile additions, including Mark Lewis, Chief Executive of Hospitality Action.
Through his leadership at the Institute, Richardson has championed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), with accessibility placed firmly at the heart of that mission.
The Institute’s dedicated DEIB Council has highlighted the urgent need for employers to embrace all forms of disability, both visible and invisible, a vision that aligns seamlessly with aha’s purpose of building a hospitality industry where everyone feels welcome.
Welcoming him to the Advisory Board, Robin Sheppard, Co-Founder and Chair of aha, said: “Robert has driven significant, positive change at the Institute of Hospitality, expanding membership both across the UK and globally.
“We are confident his voice on our Advisory Board will help us accelerate the progress we’ve already made.”
Accepting the appointment, Richardson commented: “I am delighted to join the aha Advisory Board and contribute to advancing our industry’s journey toward genuine accessibility and inclusion.
“Creating spaces that welcome everyone is not only the right thing to do, it will strengthen hospitality as a whole. I look forward to collaborating with Robin and the wider aha team to ensure our sector leads by example.”
Richardson’s commitment to accessibility will also be visible at The aha Forum, in Partnership with Thomas Franks, where he and attending and taking part.
Building on the success of the inaugural aha Forum, the next edition will take place in November 2025 in the City of London, bringing together operators, suppliers, and advocates committed to advancing accessibility in hospitality.
Full details of the date, venue, and agenda will be announced shortly. Interest is already high, tickets for the first Forum sold out quickly, and those wishing to attend the second are encouraged to register their interest now here.
