NewswireToday - /newswire/ - Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, 04/24/2007 - British adventurer, inspirational speaker, disability champion (figurehead role) Hilton Hotels UK & Ireland and muscular dystrophy sufferer Michael McGrath plans a "24hr Accessibility Endurance Challenge" whilst in Dubai. He is attending AHIC and ATM.

McGrath’s “24 Hour Dubai Accessibility Endurance Challenge”
Flying with Virgin Atlantic on Saturday 28th April from the London Heathrow and as part of his forthcoming visit to Dubai where he is attending the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference and the Arabian Travel Market, the British polar adventurer and inspirational speaker Michael McGrath who made history by becoming the only disabled person in the world to have reached both the North and South Poles (two of the most inaccessible places on earth), plans to visit as many of Dubai’s major tourist attractions, places of interest and hotels as is humanly possible in a marathon 24hr period – call it McGrath’s “24 Hour Dubai Accessibility Endurance Challenge” … endurance because he can’t walk, endurance because he uses a powerchair and endurance because he has the muscle wasting disease Muscular Dystrophy.

With nearly 700,000 UK visitors in 2005 (up by 13% from the previous year), the UK is now the largest market to Dubai; McGrath says “Hoteliers for example need to develop strategies that address the multi-generational needs, wants and desires. They must offer design and amenities that cater to the different needs of ageing consumers who for example have high accessibility requirements (like disabled visitors), as well as younger affluent visitors who in turn have high technology and design expectations”.

In his figurehead role as disABILITY Champion for Hilton Hotels (UK & Ireland) and as a specialist consultant to the hospitality industry, McGrath is a man on a mission; he will be attending both the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) and the Arabian Travel Market (ATM). He will also be writing about his experiences whilst in Dubai (including his 24hr accessibility challenge), in seeing at first hand whether Dubai is indeed one of the most accessible tourist destinations in the world. His schedule in Dubai is being sponsored by Hilton Hotels.

If you’re a tourism, hospitality, and travel or consumer lifestyle publication and are interested in either using Michael McGrath’s article as a contribution and/or editorial feature to your publication (available on or before Friday 25th May 2007) or you wish to interview him, please reply to this email – the article will be provided free of charge and in return, those that use it are asked to make a donation to The Muscular Help Foundation of which Michael McGrath is the Chief Executive and Charity Co-founder.

Schedule permitting, he aims to depart on his 24hr challenge from the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah at 11.00hrs on either Wed 2nd May or Thursday 3rd May

MEDIA/JOURNALIST ENQUIRIES BEFORE FRIDAY 4th MAY
Michael McGrath's UK Office / E: michael_mcgrath[.]btopenworld.com.

MEDIA/JOURNALIST ENQUIRIES BETWEEN SATURDAY 28th APRIL AND WEDNESDAY 2nd MAY
E: michael_mcgrath[.]btopenworld.com / M: +44 (0) 7958 463434

Messages can be left for Michael McGrath at the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah
T: +971 (0) 4 399 1111 / F: +971 (0) 4 399 1112

Agency / Source: The Muscle Help Foundation [MHF]

Availability: All Regions (Including Int'l)

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