Joanna McLachlan, associate partner at Plexus Law, advised agents and operators that “targeting holidays for the over-50s brought additional responsibilities”.
She advised delegates to revisit the Package Travel Directive, which details companies’ obligations to customers to ensure that descriptions of packages are not misleading.
For companies targeting the over-50s market she questioned: “Have you considered the layout of a property? Have you thought about mobility issues – whether a property is located on a hill for example, and does it have lifts?”
Meanwhile, McLachlan also highlighted the Equality Act of 2010, which means service providers must not discriminate against a person.
She pointed out that the act is wide-ranging, “including people who may not see themselves as disabled, such as HIV or dementia sufferers”.
“It’s crucial that persons with assisted mobility aren’t treated differently,” McLachlan added.
“For example if someone needs a special shower you can’t charge them more for it.”
Elsewhere, Kay Neufeld, senior economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, highlighted the value of the over-50s market, pointing out that spending on travel and tourism by the demographic has increased by one third since 2011.
This could be because the over-55s hold more than two thirds of total wealth in the UK, he said, adding that research showed the over-50s are set to comprise more than 40% of the population by 2032.
