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Sunday, 24 January 2016

Advantangeous for hotels to add more accessible accommodation

For several months now I have been doing my own research into hotel accessible guest accommodation and so far I have to say it's been a mixed bag.  I have found that many hotels have
Holiday Inn London Oxford Circus
only 1% to 5% of their guest accommodation is accessible rather than the number of guestrooms that the Building Regulations ( Part M1 4.24g) suggest they should have unless there are compelling reasons for not doing so.  Legislation states that for every twenty guestrooms there should be one accessible guestroom but from my own research and personal knowledge this is not happening.  As far as I am aware it is hard to enforce this legislation and if it was easy why isn't someone doing it.
I not sure how the hotel industry views people with disabilities as on occasions I have felt that hotel staff are rather uncomfortable and somewhat unsure when they see I am disabled and have often taken the easier option of speaking to the person with me rather than me.  Most of my travelling is done with my best friend of 30 years plus and the staff look rather embarrassed when she passes the hotel registration form to me to sign.  I think staff in general have a preconceived idea of what a disabled person should be like.  I put this down to lack of awareness training from their employer or organisation. 
Accessible hotel rooms are more often than not based on a standard equivalent guestroom and this is something that really annoys me more than the lack of accessible guestrooms and it feels as if I should be grateful for what I am offered. Standard hotel rooms have the basics, a bed, bedside tables, desk and chair, hospitality tray, small comfy chair, TV and somewhere to put your clothes.  When I stay at a hotel I want more than just a standard room I want to have a room with a view.  I want to have a seating area with a sofa and not just one chair, not all disabled people are in a wheelchair so more than one comfy chair
Executive Lounge at Hilton NEC
would be good.  I would like to have extras such as a better hospitality tray, a coffee machine, complimentary dressing gowns and slippers and access to the executive or club lounge.  For me the executive lounge at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole at the NEC is a godsend and a haven away from the hustle and bustle of what is a busy conference hotel.  My last stay at the Hilton was in December 2015 and I stayed in an executive room with my friend as this gave us a separate bathtub and shower.  I more than happy to pay for a more comfortable room and I can't believe I'm the only disabled person who thinks that way.  It has been said to me that some are scared to cause a fuss.  Let a hotel try and do that to me! 
I can be outspoken at times but if disabled people want true equality then its time they stand up and be counted and stop relying on a few people, change won't happen unless they do something about it themselves.  I may be disabled but I have contributed to society like my (non-disabled) friends and have the right to be treated as an equal. 
It would be advantageous for hotel owners, chains and managers to look at disabled guests as an asset to their business.  Look at offering more than one grade of accessible guestroom and offer a grade of accessible guestroom that  offers access to executive or club lounges.  They should consider just adding one more accessible guestroom/suite which would make all the difference of hundreds of extra rooms in London alone.  I am happy to discuss accessibility with anyone in the hotel industry who is willing to lisern to what I have to say.

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