The Evolution of Accessible Lodging for Disabled Travelers
The travel industry has made significant progress in recent years to accommodate guests with disabilities. Hotels and alternative lodging providers are actively investing in more accessible features and policies to serve this undercatered market.
The most basic accommodation requirement is having handicap accessible rooms. These rooms meet standards like widened doorways, grab bars, and roll-in showers to enable wheelchair access. Major hotel brands have increased their percentages of accessible rooms, though availability remains limited in many regions.
In terms of vision accessibility, some innovations include elevator buttons in braille, hotel maps in 3D textures, and restaurant menus with QR codes that activate screen readers. For hearing accessibility, amenities like visual fire alarms, closed captioning on TVs, and vibration sensors on doors provide needed alerts.
Advances in technology are also assisting disabled guests. Mobile apps allow guests to control room features, request services and better navigate facilities. Automation like self-check-in kiosks, automatic doors and lighting reduce the need to ask for assistance.
Some hotel chains partner with brands that specialize in disability products. Examples include complimentary in-room accessibility equipment like shower chairs, bed raisers and hearing amplifiers.
Lodging websites increasingly provide detailed accessibility information to aid with trip planning. Expanding listings on sites like Wheelmap and Accomable allow travelers to filter specifically for accessible properties. Accessibility certifications like those from Open Doors Organization also help identify qualifying accommodations.
While progress has been made, advocacy groups note ample room for improvement across lodging accessibility. Continued staff training and investment in inclusive technologies and policies will help the travel sector better serve all guests regardless of physical needs and limitations.
Accessible travel accommodations provide both moral and business advantages. They enable people with disabilities to enjoy travel experiences that may otherwise be inaccessible. Providing equitable hospitality services, beyond legal compliance, helps the travel industry better serve the estimated 15% of the world’s population with disabilities.
Accessibility features also benefit people without impairments, such as senior travelers and those with temporary disabilities. Ultimately, accessible design benefits all by supporting more universal access.
On the business side, accessible tourism constitutes an over $400 billion yearly market according to the World Tourism Organization. Disabled travelers typically take longer trips with an estimated average of 10-15 days per trip. Capturing this market can significantly boost hotel/lodging revenues during off-peak periods or low seasons.
Some examples of companies actively catering to accessible tourism include Protea Hotels, which has partnered with DeafSA to add video remote interpreting services across South Africa. The Banyan Tree Hong Kong added Braille restaurant menus and accessible transportation. Hotel Brandstand in the Canary Islands underwent extensive renovations to become Spain’s first beach resort with 100% accessible rooms and facilities.
Emmanuel Omogunwa
Author
