Who is the sexiest of all?
For a long time accessibility and hospitality were worlds apart. Sometimes, that one room for wheelchair users at the end of the hall way, with a terrible view, had only 1 bed.
Over the years, after a booming industry in care products and accessible design furniture thriving and many inventions in that industry, hotels have invested in accessibility.
It is not appealing
Even today, we talk to managers who whisper in our ears that of course accessible hospitality is their foremost goal, for all their guests, but that funny alarm in the bathroom, or the bright yellow stripes on stairs, the design of toilet units, it is not appealing.
Other guests would never rent this room… so what to do?
Design
Well, we have news for you, hotel managers.
In this day and age, thanks to all the progress that has been made, the most sophisticated wheelchairs, stunning design accessible bathrooms and of course smartphones and tablets have helped people facing a disability tremendously.
They like to travel the world. Just like anybody else.
Groups, families, couples, singles
As you know, since the beginnings of hospitality people travel alone, or as a family, or as a couple, or even in groups. It is nothing new.
People with a disability travel too. Just like anybody else. They adapt, invent and go beyond limits. The world around them is behind.
If there is one person with a disability, they will look for hotels where their whole family or group can stay. Hotel management should think the other way around.
Inclusion
The magic word is inclusion – basically meaning everybody can be together, where and whenever they want.
If a hotel manager has made the effort to invest in accessibility and all staff members show customers with disabilities in a professional way that in their hotel accessibility is like the extra coffee offered at breakfast – it is there, and it is natural – these customers will feel great and tell all their friends.
Inclusion is a major lead to free advertising.
Hotel managers – who is the sexiest of all?
It is not about costs or profits, it is about showing you are aware. About how you know it is the right thing to do to make sure all guests can have a great time with their friends or family.
Where they want, whenever they want.
Now that, is sexy.
