Skip to Content

Community Cuppa: Shaping Age-Friendly Hospitality Together

People enjoying themselves in a cafe

What’s on offer?

Join us at The Guildford Institute for a cuppa and conversation to explore how hospitality venues can become more age-friendly.

This special event, hosted by the University of Surrey’s world-leading School of Hospitality, is your chance to help shape the future of local dining and leisure spaces to ensure they accommodate people of every age.

Discuss with our researchers how cafes, restaurants, and other venues can refine their services and amenities to offer more accessible and enjoyable experiences for all. Your first-hand experiences and feedback are invaluable, especially if accessibility challenges affect you or your loved ones. Let’s brainstorm solutions together!

What’s it about?

Whether you're looking to connect with community members, interested in hospitality as a career or volunteer opportunity, or just eager to champion inclusivity, your voice and insights are essential. 

Highlights include:

• A film screening that showcases initiatives from our 'Hospitality Connect' project aimed at enhancing venue environments for older adults.

• Learn about strategies to improve staff interactions with older customers.

• Get hands-on with our WelcomeALL Toolkit, which you can take home to encourage local venues to embrace inclusivity.

We invite hospitality professionals to join the dialogue, share their expertise, and gather resources that drive positive change in their businesses.

Complimentary refreshments will be served, and parking expenses are covered by us. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with your community and influence how hospitality spaces welcome everyone, regardless of age.

Tickets are limited to a small number to ensure everyone’s voice gets heard. Light refreshments will be available.

Who’s leading the event?

Dr Lorna Wang, Co-Director, Centre for Research on Ageing and Generations, and Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Revenue Management, University of Surrey.

Dr Bora Kim, Senior Lecturer in Hospitality Management; Co-Director of Learning and Teaching; Program Director for BSc IHM and IHTM, University of Surrey.

Open to

This event is open to everyone.

Of particular interest to

Older people wanting to see more welcoming and accessible hospitality venues that could help them to connect with others in their local community.

Carers, relatives or support workers who look after older people, wanting to see more age-friendly hospitality venues that could help build social connections.

Hospitality professionals wanting to better understand the social and economic benefits of being age-inclusive, and improve their venue as a space to foster positive social interactions for older people.

Interested members of the general public.