Staybridge Suites, highly recommended!

Staybridge Suites have hotels in five UK locations at Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle and two in London.  In 2017 Staybridge Suites are opening up another 116 room hotel in Manchester taking their total to six.
We recently had the opportunity to stay at the Liverpool hotel for a concert we were attending at the Echo Arena and as always research was the order of the day.  Like most people I checked the usual travel sites for reviews and maybe the odd photograph to get some idea of the establishment.  My first surprise was on Tripadvisor they were #4 out of #100 much higher up the list than other major hotel chains.  All reviews that I had read had scored them high and traveller photos supported that.  Like most hotel websites their accessible information was not brilliant so I thought it best to call their reservations.  The chap at reservations listened to my requirements and called the hotel reception to make sure that they had what I needed before making my booking.
Our reservation was for two nights in a accessible studio suite and I was not sure what to expect upon arrival.  Being a Gold Elite member you are supposed to be acknowledged in some way but this has been a bit hit and miss at other IHG hotels.  However upon our arrival I was presented with a goody bag that had complimentary water, newspaper and cookie and I know that doesn't seem a lot but as they say "it's the thought that counts"  The reception staff were very welcoming and we were able to park our car in their car park which is free for blue badge holders.
Our accessible studio suite was 412. My first impression was "wow" it is just as I remembered seeing it online.

Bed area

The suite has three distinct areas the bed, kitchenette and sofa areas.
The bed area has a large double bed, and bedside tables with lighting and a telephone.  There is a mirrored wardrobe and has a orange pull chord by the bed. 
The kitchenette has been designed so that a wheelchair user can roll underneath.  The kitchenette has everything you need.  I was impressed that there was a full size under counter fridge, we found this handy as we had brought some provisions with us.  This area also had a orange pull chord.

Kitchenette

Sofa area

The sofa area was compact but we had a full size sofa with a sideboard and flat screen television (32inch) and several lamps and yet another orange pull chord.
There was also a table and desk chair.
We often travel with an extension cable as in most hotels there is never enough sockets for all the charging cables and electricals that we need but I found there to be more than ample sockets in our suite.
The best I will leave to last and that is how I was impressed with the wetroom.  For once some thought has gone into its design,  It was large and for one it did not feel "medicalised".  All the grab rails were chrome and modern in design.  The wetrooms lighting was designed so that you could light the whole room or just part.  There was a shelving and storage area which was back lit and framed photographs on the wall.  The floor tiles were non slip and there was a fold away seat.  The only thing that could be improved is that there was no where to put your shower products (that's my little niggle), a shelf in that area would be a plus.  This was the only room I didn't photograph. 
The one thing that I noticed was the abundance of orange pull chords a total of 5 in the suite.  All in all I was very impressed and would not hesitate in recommending then to anyone, well done Staybridge.

Striving to be an equal in our society

There are times when I am both frustrated and annoyed by the disabled community in general.  I constantly hear how people strive to be equal in our society but only a few of us are willing to pursue this right to equality.  Too many people in our society are happy to let others do the donkey work while they just sit back and watch and I for one have had enough.
Equality and accessibility in society is very important to me and one area that I have got passionate about is the lack of decent accessible guest accommodation in hotels.  During any year I do a fair bit of leisure travel along with my best friend and apart from one exception I have to say that I have been very disappointed by recent hotel stays.  Being able to use a shower cubicle I try often with little success to try and find a hotel that has a bathroom that has a separate shower and bath tub.  These bathroom facilities are usually only available when you book a high grade executive room or suite and recently this is what we had done on a recent visit to Birmingham.  The accessible guestrooms at the hotel in which we stayed were equal to standard guestrooms but with out the addition of a sofa or comfy chairs.  Most hotels do not offer accessible guestrooms in higher room grades or suites. 
Most hotel accessible rooms I would describe as having only basic furniture requirements, a bed, bedside tables, desk and chair, drawers.  Often accessible rooms come as a double bed and this means that if you are travelling with a carer or friend you then have the extra cost of another guestroom.
Many hotels have a bathroom with a lowered bath tub and this is something that I have yet to find someone who can tell me the thinking behind this.  Like many disabled people I have poor upper body strength and therefore would not be able to utilise this facility.  Most accessible bathrooms are often described by guests as being "medicalized" or "clinical" because of there cold and sterile appearance.  The tiling is usually white or grey in colour and apart from the usual bathroom fittings there is no nice shelving or special little touches.
In a recent enquiry I was told that all the accessible guestrooms were bath tub, but if I wanted a shower I could use the hotel gym facilities.  This is what the Crowne Plaza at Birmingham NEC who considered this a reasonable adjustment.  I have to say this is not the first time I have been told this, it first happened at the Holiday Inn at Stratford upon Avon in 2009 and that time it was the swimming pool showers.
I am currently doing my own research into hotel accessibility and facilities and I am very disappointed with the results so far.
Building regulations (2004, updated 2013) states that Part M states 4.19 unless there are compelling reasons for not doing so, there should be as many en-suite shower rooms as en-suite bathrooms and 4.24 at least one accessible wheelchair bedroom is provided for every 20 bedrooms or part thereof.  My own research shown that none of the hotels that I have contacted follow these guidelines.  I will continue to gather information before deciding where to take this.

Lords Select Commitee to meet on 7 July 2015

House of Lords Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability are to meet on Tuesday 7th July 2015 at the Palace of Westminster.  They will hear from senior officials from two Government Departments - DWP and the Government Equalities Office.  
In the afternoon they will hear from witnesses and possible questions may focus on disabled people under the Equality Act 2010 as compared to the Discrimination Act 1995, reasonable adjustments of premises, transport, enforcement of rights and the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Added a couple of new pages

I have been busy today researching information that I hope you will find both informative and helpful.  To make it easier I have created two new pages one is "Premier Inns" and the other one is "Interesting Facts and Figures".  They are self explainitory.  If you like my blog and you know someone who might find it interesting or useful please tell them about me.  This is only the beginning of what I would like to achieve.

Premier Inn future plans

On the Premier Inn news page there is a link "disabled access" and this will open up a new page.  This page covers everything you need to know before you make a reservation and covers arrival and car parking facilities, public areas, bars and restaurants, meeting,  conference and function rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms and additional information.  
The part that I found most interesting was the heading "Future Plans" this part of the document is about all new build Premier Inns will have 50% wetrooms and 50% shallow bath with rails so giving the disabled person flexibility.  This is in accordance with British Standard.  
They have an ongoing refurbishment programme and where the building will allow they hope to convert 50% existing accessible bathrooms into wetrooms.  To read the entire document go to www.premierinn.com http://www.premierinn.com

Poor customer service at Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC

Being disabled doesn't always mean I can't do something it just means that there is a lot more planning and research involved.  I wish it was as simple as picking a hotel and booking it but that is not an option for me.  When booking a hotel there are many things I have to consider such as accessibility, bathroom facilities, parking and location and this all comes at a high price.  
On June 16th I looked into booking the Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC for a two night stay as I am going to the Genting Arena to see Duran Duran in December.  Being as the hotel is modern and was built in 2002 I thought they would be able to fulfil my requirements 
but as I have been caught out in the past I thought it best to check before booking on line.  Their website stated that accessible rooms had en-suite bathrooms with a bath and over head shower.  Why?  One professional photo shows a wet room and totally misleading to anyone.  I gave the hotel a call and spoke with reception to see if this was correct and to ask if any of their 242 rooms were shower only or separate bath and shower including accessible rooms and suites.  I was told that all rooms were bath with over head shower but if somebody needed to use a shower they would have to use the facilities in the gym.  I was speechless.  I do not consider that reasonable adjustment and I sent an email of complaint to IHG customer relations.  On the 17th June I had a reply to my email basically saying thank you for comments and apologised for the way the call was handled and that was that.  They did not mention the reason for my enquiry at all.  This poor reply from IHG was very disappointing as I have been a very loyal customer of theirs for more that 11 years and felt I deserved better treatment.  I know they can't provide me with suitable accommodation or create an accessible room over night, they could have helped me find a hotel that could accommodate me.
 

I have several blogs "Katie's World" and "Teapot and Pearls" but have decided to start this blog which will be devoted to accessibility issues .  For so long I have been frustrated by the lack of suitable hotel accommodation for disabled people.  There does not seem to be one industry standard that all hotels adhere to and this seems to be where the problem lies.  When you contact the hotel you never know what facilities you will be offered.
Even large chain hotels seem to have different ideas of what an accessible room should have and there does not seem to be a blueprint that they all work from.
Accessibility should also cover access into and around the hotel/ship, facilities and designated car parking.