HotelChatter || Wheelchair Accessible Hotels

This week our roving correspondent Monica Guy is writing about an oft-overlooked aspect of hotels and travel: disabled access. Monica knows a lot about this subject as she works and travels frequently with Stephen Hawking. However, feel free to chime in with your thoughts and experiences too. Got a question? Let us know and we'll get it answered for you.

For disabled travellers outside of the US, perhaps a better option than designated specially-designed accessible hotels is to go for ordinary hotel chains who take access seriously.

Three cheers in this department go to the Swedish-owned Scandic Hotel chain. They recently won two prestigious awards for their efforts in the field of disabled access. Unlike most chains, they employ a full-time disability coordinator, Magnus Bergland, to advise on access issues and train staff in how to deal with guests with disabilities.

In fact, he not only advises, he makes all new staff get into a wheelchair and follow the 'guest's route' round the hotel, from parking and the reception desk to the room, bathroom and breakfast area. It's only by doing this, he claims, that people gain any sort of understanding as to the difficulties faced by disabled guests.

The facilities aren't just for wheelchair users, of course. Apparently, many Swedes suffer from hearing problems so there are hearing loops, vibrating pillows and special alarm clocks available in all 129 of the Scandic hotels. Walking-stick holders at reception and shower stools in bathrooms are other good ideas which Magnus has introduced.

The Ibis and ETAP chains are usually good bets. They all have large lifts, ramped entrances, and generally at least a couple of rooms available for disabled guests. Okay, so the rooms themselves are no great shakes and the décor is stunningly boring, but at least you know what you're getting. A rare plus indeed if you have access needs.

Other hotel chains are gradually waking up and smelling the coffee brewing in the 'accessible travel' sector. For instance, the newly-opened City Inn Westminster London, part of the City Inn chain, has found it in them to create 22 designated accessible rooms and install basic facilities such as hearing loops and disabled toilets.

May the other hotel chains look over the fence and follow suit....

[Photo: Tini.mm]

Go Here To Read All of Monica Guy's Stories on WheelChair Accessible Hotels.

Hotel Reviews:
City Inn Westminster Hotel

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