Sophie Morgan, the TV presenter and producer, author, travel writer and advocate for disability rights, is joining the panel of judges for the inaugural Travel for Every Body Awards.
Sophie has been voted one of the UK’s most influential disability advocates and has earned recognition from the United Nations and Forbes. She was also named one of the BBC’s top 100 Women in 2024.
Last year, she fronted an investigative documentary on Channel 4 called ‘Fight to Fly’ looking at the state of accessibility in air travel. The documentary sparked international debate.
Earlier this month Sophie moderated the Advantage Travel Partnership Conference in Malta, which is where she heard about the Travel for Every Body Awards and expressed an interest in supporting them.
The awards will help to raise awareness of the work being done in the travel industry to improve the experience of travellers with accessibility needs.
By showcasing these industry initiatives, the Travel for Every Body Awards will help drive further change to make travel and tourism more inclusive.
“I’m really excited to be joining the judging panel for the first-ever Travel for Every Body Awards. These awards are a crucial step in our collective journey toward greater accessibility and inclusivity in travel, so I’m delighted to help shine a light on those who are leading the way in making travel better for everyone,” she said.
Injured in a car crash when she was 18, Sophie is now a T5 complete paraplegic and a full-time manual wheelchair.
She is one of the world’s first visibly disabled female television hosts and has anchored major coverage for the BBC, ITV and NBC, including global sporting events such as the Paralympic Games and travel shows.
She will join six other judges on the panel:
Judges Chair, Jon Fletcher, Founder of the Wheelie Good Travel Company and named on the Shaw Trust’s Disability Power 100 2024 as one of the top 100 most influential disabled people in the UK.
Manuel Butler, Director of The Spanish Tourist Office in the UK and on the advisory board for ‘Spain For All’, an accessibility campaign from the Spanish Tourist Office aimed at promoting the destination as inclusive for those with accessibility needs.
Paula Hansen, Founder of World Accessible Holidays, a business that has opened up the world of travel to disabled holidaymakers on a budget with the UK’s first one-stop website providing accessible and affordable holidays.
Emma Partlow, Director of Consumer Engagement and Policy at Transreport, who leads strategies related to community engagement and enhancing product experience through co-production with global consumers.
Lady Tina Reading Dip DigM MCIPR, an accomplished media and communications leader, currently serving as Editor of Lube Media, (UKLA), Metroland Life and Beautiful Weddings UK and a dedicated advocate for accessibility and community engagement.
Entries close July 14.
