Podcast Icon Podcasts
How can tourism become more accessible?

How can tourism become more accessible?

The tourism sector could be missing out on billions by not adapting to the disabled market. However, some businesses and individuals are trying to change that.

Speaking to people in North America, Greece and Spain who are making a difference, we find out the challenges in accessible tourism and the potential revenue if things change.

We also travel to Amsterdam to meet a woman helping businesses become more accessible.

Presented and produced by Sean Allsop

(Picture: Man using a wheelchair takes a photograph with his camera. Credit: Getty Images)

Business Daily meets: Masaba Gupta

Business Daily meets: Masaba Gupta

Not many fashion designers can say they've starred in their own TV series alongside their mother.

For this edition of Business Daily, Devina Gupta talks to Indian entrepreneur and social media influencer Masaba Gupta.

The daughter of Indian actor Neena Gupta and West Indian cricketer Sir Viv Richards, Masaba discusses how her mixed heritage has inspired the vibrant prints she's become famous for.

(Picture: Masaba Gupta)

Presenter: Devina Gupta Producer: Lexy O'Connor

Can the Olympics change an area’s reputation?

Can the Olympics change an area’s reputation?

We’re in the Paris suburb of Seine -Saint-Denis which will host most of the games this summer.

It’s an area with some of the highest levels of poverty in the whole of France, and a bad reputation.

In the minds of most French people, the area conjures up images of drugs, crime and riots.

Locals say that reputation is unfair – and they’re hoping the investment of the games, and a place on the world stage, goes some way to changing that. But can it?

Presented and produced by John Laurenson

(Image: Inside the Aquatic Olympic Center (CAO). It will host artistic swimming, diving and water-polo. Credit: Getty Images)

Why are we ageist?

Why are we ageist?

We look at how many employers still base decisions on a person's age, despite the strong pressures in higher income countries to retain and encourage older staff.

What are the underlying reasons for this prejudice?

And Ed meets a cosmetic doctor at a central London clinic to discuss the increase in demand for anti-ageing procedures, for people who want to look younger at work.

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood

(Picture: A man and a woman sit at a table at work, with a woman standing up talking to them. Credit: Getty Images)

Tackling ageism at work

Tackling ageism at work

One in two people are ageist, according to the World Health Organization. Ed Butler looks at the scale of the perceived problem, hearing from workers and experts.

In the UK and US, for instance, more than a quarter of over-50s report experiences of ageism in the last 12 months. One recent global survey found that it’s the most socially accepted prejudice, more widespread than either racism or sexism.

And how much is ageism a factor in this year’s US presidential race?

(Picture: Timothy Tan working alongside a colleague at a computer)

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood

The business of bed bugs

The business of bed bugs

Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to deal with - and they're a nightmare for any town or city that relies on a thriving hospitality industry. In October 2023, French government officials had to act rapidly following news headlines claiming there'd been a rise in infestations in Paris, in the run-up to the 2024 Olympic Games.

Infestations can damage reputations, and lead to financial losses due to compensation claims and costly pest control treatments. But scientists are developing solutions to deal with the problem.

In this edition of Business Daily, we speak to hotel owners, entrepreneurs, and travellers who’ve been bitten - plus the companies creating technology to help hospitality bosses tackle the problem.

(Picture: A hand in a blue glove, holding a magnifying glass over some bed bugs. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw

Goodbye blue tick?

Goodbye blue tick?

Once a much desired badge of authority and quality, on some social media platforms the blue tick (or check) is now available to anyone who chooses to buy one.

But has this been a popular move?

And has the monetising of verification meant that the blue tick has lost its credibility?

We hear from industry experts who can shed some light on verification, which has dramatically changed since Elon Musk bought Twitter, now X, in October 2022.

Presenter: David Harper Producer: Victoria Hastings

(Image: Two workers look at a phone. Credit: Getty Images)

Can cars and tourism boost Spain's economy?

Can cars and tourism boost Spain's economy?

We look at how the country can grow its economy in 2024.

In November 2023, Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez won a second term as Spain's prime minister, and said his focus would be reducing public debt and helping key sectors such as tourism and the automotive industry.

Plus the government wants to become a leader in renewables.

Presenter: Ashish Sharma

(Image: Woman takes a selfie in Madrid. Credit: Getty Images)

The race for the perfect running shoe

The race for the perfect running shoe

The running shoe industry is worth around 50 billion dollars across the world, with more and more of us taking part in the sport. With more popularity comes more competition, so what are brands doing to keep consumers interested? We ask the chief marketing officer at Swiss sportswear company, ON, and find out how it helps sales when a top athlete wears their shoes. And as the debate around 'super shoes' rumbles on, are they really worth the expensive price tag? US marathon winner Kellyn Taylor tells us about the pros and cons of carbon plated shoes - which played a big role in marathon records being smashed in 2023.

(Picture: A group of runners racing through a park. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield

Business Daily meets: Michele Arnese

Business Daily meets: Michele Arnese

It's widely recognised that we are bombarded with fast-paced imagery in the modern world, whether it's social media videos, or digital billboards in city spaces.

But there has been a similar explosion in sound, says advertising entrepreneur Michele Arnese. He thinks brands can only compete with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).

Dougal Shaw speaks to the Italian tech entrepreneur who trained as a classical musician, but founded an advertising company that helps companies stand out with distinctive sounds.

(Picture: Michele Arnese of Amp looking at AI-generated music with a colleague.)

Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw

The race to secure semiconductor supply chains

The race to secure semiconductor supply chains

Semiconductors hit the news during the Covid-19 pandemic, as issues with supply chains led to shortages of cars and soaring prices.

Since then, geopolitical tensions have impacted the industry. 90% of the world's most advanced chips are made by TSMC in Taiwan. Now, countries all over the world are investing billions of dollars into the industry, so that manufacturing of these chips can happen in more places and alleviate some of the problems supply chains have faced in the last few years.

In today’s episode, we visit a new semiconductor fabrication plant in the UK - the first to develop a low-cost, flexible semiconductor, as companies, and nations, race to diversity the industry.

(Picture: Two workers in PPE inside the Pragmatic semiconductor plant in Durham, England. Credit: Pragmatic)

Produced and presented by Hannah Mullane

Food security in Puerto Rico

Food security in Puerto Rico

The Caribbean island imports around 90% of its food and by law only US ships can be used to transport it – which pushes up the price.

We speak to islanders who think that needs to change, and are pushing for Puerto Rico to become more self sufficient.

Weather events like Hurricane Maria, which left many without power and water for months, have brought the issue to the forefront once again.

We meet a new generation who are leading the way, using new technology to try and make it easier, and cheaper, for people to buy local and rely less on imports.

Produced and presented by Jane Chambers

(Image: Puerto Rican farmer Fernando Maldonado. Credit: Jane Chambers)

Shafaq Live
Shafaq Live
Radio radio icon