New travel agency checks in for take off in Edinburgh – Daily Business

Service: Sarah Baum and Michael Connolly

Two specialists in the accessible housing sector in Scotland have set up their own travel agency in Edinburgh.

Michael Connolly and Sarah Baum established Accessible Housing Scotland (AHS) in the summer of 2024 and have now branched into travel as they continue to help improve the lives of people with health challenges.

From cruises and city breaks to family holidays and group trips, AllWays Travel caters for everyone but has a particular focus on helping remove the stress from holiday planning for those with mobility, health or accessibility requirements.

ABTA-bonded and ATOL protected, the independent agency prides itself on a “people-first alternative” to online booking platforms, with a very personal service including home visits to prospective travellers.

The co-founders met six years ago while working together in the solicitor and estate agency sector. Mrs Baum ran her own solicitor estate agency in Edinburgh, while Mr Connolly joined the team after completing his studies in International Business and Spanish. He has since gone on to complete his LLB in Scots Law.

Through their work in property, the pair became increasingly aware of how poorly accessibility is often considered, particularly for people navigating housing with mobility, health or additional support needs.

This led them to jointly establish AHS with their foray into the travel market coming after similar gaps were identified in that sector.

Mr Connolly said: “Clients deal directly with us, not a call centre. We take time to understand individual needs and budgets and build holidays around that.

“We appreciate some people may be feeling a little uneasy about travelling at the moment given what’s happening in the world. We use trusted tour operator partners and will deal with all travel enquiries and are happy to visit clients at home, too, meaning they are relaxed in their own environment.”

On the accessible angle, Mrs Baum said: “Accessible travel is relevant to far more people than many realise.

“Too often people are left to piece things together themselves but we work hard behind the scenes to make sure that the entire journey works, not just the destination.

“Our aim is simple – to make travel planning feel reassuring and straightforward, and to make sure accessibility is considered from the very start, not treated as an afterthought.

“We verify accessibility properly – not just at hotel level, but right down to room layouts, transfers, and the wider resort or destination. As we grow, we’re keen to build stronger relationships with specialist accessible travel operators where that genuinely adds value.”

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