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.