Welcoming everyone to our 2026 Conference
Our Annual conference will be held in Glasgow from 5-7 August 2026.
Our venue is the Radisson Blu hotel, right next to Glasgow’s Central Station.
Every year we take on feedback from the previous conferences and try to make the conference even better. We are working hard to make it as inclusive and accessible as possible.
Delegates are encouraged to let us know any adjustments they need when they register and where possible we will make this happen. If a need for adjustments arises after you have registered you can contact the conference team at araconference@opening-doors.org.uk to make your request.
In Bristol, last year, we successfully trialled the SpeakSee’s SoundShape live transcription service to help those with hearing impairments. The ShoundShape solution provides real-time subtitles and translation. It is designed to make events accessible for the deaf, hard of hearing, and international guests. Delegates receive live subtitles and translations directly on their smartphone, tablet, or laptop. It supports 40 different languages.
We will also be, once again, providing a Quiet Room. A busy conference environment can be overwhelming for many of us and having a space to find some peace and quiet - that is easily accessible from the main conference area - can be a vital component of helping people really enjoy their conference experience.
Delegates are also welcome to indicate if they would like any help being introduced to people or, if they have never been to conference before and don’t know anyone there, just a friendly face to help them navigate the networking aspects and get the best from their time with us. If that’s you contact ARA’s Head of Communications, Deborah Mason, at deborah.mason@archives.org.uk
Our conference set up this year is all on one floor of the hotel with all the rooms we are using accessible from the central refreshment and exhibition area. The toilets are also accessed from this space. Just one floor up from the hotel entrance the area of our conference is directly served by both stairs and a lift.
The hotel has provided us with the following accessibility information:
The Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow provides easy access to transport options, shopping destinations and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC).
The hotel is easily accessible and around 200 yards from Glasgow Central Train Station
The Hotel has 247 bedrooms, including 13 accessible bedrooms
Public accessible toilets are available on our Ground and 1st floor of the hotel
The hotel has a Restaurant called Grahamston Restaurant on the ground level of the hotel
Getting to the hotel
The hotel is situated in the heart of the city, minutes from the main shopping area and the Financial District
By car - M8, J19 minutes away, The nearest car park is NCP on Oswald Street – discounted rates available, £15.00 for 24 hours
By rail - Glasgow Central Station is adjacent to the hotel
By air - 12km to Glasgow International Airport
Local transfers -
Glasgow Taxis drop off at the hotel in the lay-by outside, The nearest rank is at Central Station, just across the street. A concierge can help with arranging taxis
Short walk connects guests with the city’s network of buses, urban rail and underground transport systems
The tourist bus stops at the hotel door
Central Station is just across the street; Buchan Bus Station and Queen Street rail station are 10 minutes away
About the hotel:
Main Entrance / Reception / Welcome Area
Entrance to the hotel is via a manual door or a revolving door
The Reception is situated on the ground floor with plenty of open space and level access throughout
There is seating available throughout the ground floor, which can be used as an alternative space for check-in
The hotel has 3 check-in pods that are easily accessed
The area is evenly and well-lit with overhead lighting and wall lights
Accessible Bedrooms
The hotel has 13 accessible bedrooms, and interconnecting rooms are available
Queen bed, walk-in bathroom, shower and bath handles, assistance cords, wider door frames, lowered peephole, additional space
Free WIFI
Handrails are fitted in the bathrooms around the toilets
Shower seats are available on request for bedrooms
Bedrooms have a laptop safe
Tea & coffee making facilities
24 hour room service
Public Areas - Halls, Lifts, Stairs, Landings, Corridors
All public areas are well-lit throughout the hotel. Using a combination of lights.
The bedroom corridors are carpeted
There are 3 lifts within the hotel which have a glass back wall allowing guests to see where they are going.
Public Areas - Lounges, Lobbies, Restaurant and Bar Areas
The restaurant and Grahamston Bar are located on the ground floor and have level access throughout, except the Snug area, which has 3 steps
The restaurant and bar have a wooden floor
There is an accessible toilet beside the bar and restaurant on the ground floor of the hotel
The bar area has a mixture of seating with high and low tables
Table service is available in both the bar and the restaurant
The Grahamston bar has a large number of windows and is light during the day, and in the evening, it is lit with dimmed lighting and candles on the tables
Public Toilets
Public toilets located on the ground and first floors of the hotel
All floors have an accessible toilet
Conference and Meeting Rooms
All meeting rooms are located on the first floor of the hotel
Access is via stairs or a lift; three lifts are available
There is an accessible bathroom on the first floor
The meeting rooms are carpeted, and the bathrooms are tiled
All meeting rooms have white walls and ceilings
A Hearing Loop System is available in the main Megalithic Suite (this will be used for our Plenaries and split into three for three of our four breakout rooms)
Additional Information
The hotel has safety procedures in place, and if you require assistance, a member of the team will come to your room and help you into the safe refuge areas within the hotel.
The hotel welcomes assistance dogs within the hotel and has water bowls available on request. The concierge team will be happy to assist with suitable areas for the dog to be walked close to the hotel
Room Service is available 24 hours a day
There is free WIFI throughout the hotel's public areas and bedrooms
If you have any questions regarding accessibility please contact araconference@opening-doors.org.uk