UK: Research by Handiscover shows that 32 per cent of disabled people in the UK feel that hotel stays have not met their accessibility needs.
Handiscover is an accessibility and disability data organisation. The company is prompting the hotel industry to improve its accessibility and relevant information in preparation for the travel restart post-Covid.
The survey revealed that 58 per cent of the disabled population who require assistance felt that hotel staff were not as knowledgable about accessibility needs.
If accessibility and greater training was in place across the industry, Handiscover believes that the EU economy could benefit up to 25 per cent against the current level (estimated €196 billion).
“Improving accessibility in the hotel industry is not just a ‘nice’ thing to do, it is the ‘right’ thing to do and can generate huge increases in revenue for properties,” said Magnus Berglund, accessibility director at Handiscover. “The Handiscover Accessibility Management Program exists to help hotels, and other businesses, work with and improve accessibility in an easy way to the benefit of the day-to-day lives of millions of people who live with a disability.”
Sebastien Archambeaud, CEO Handiscover, added: “Ever since we launched Handiscover, our aim has simply been to use accessibility data to make booking accommodation easier for those with disabilities. We now want to take the knowledge and experience we have working with those with accessibility needs and help hotels and accommodation providers improve accessibility and knowledge. We want to let businesses know that improving accessibility is not a cost burden, but a means to actually improve business by catering to more customers”.
A free of charge ‘Accessibility Standard’ has been developed by Handiscover as a guide to help hotels improve their accessibility standards. Businesses looking for further guidance in improving accessibility can sign up to Handiscover’s Accessibility Management Program.
