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.