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When a person with a disability goes on holiday, there are a number of extra worries they have to consider. From whether the accommodation is fully accessible to worrying about how they might be treated, there are special factors to take into account. If you’re a hotel owner that seeks to be welcoming to all, then you need to consider accessibility. Here are the top ways you can ensure that guests with disabilities feel wanted, respected, and cared for when they enter your accommodation.

Create an Accessible Website

The first impression a potential guest receives of your establishment is usually on the internet. They’ve spotted your hotel; it’s reasonably priced and in the ideal location. They click through to the site and what do they find? If the website itself is inaccessible, then how can they trust that the physical hotel will be?

Hire an expert to make your website accessible to all. That means ensuring people with sight and mobility impairments can easily navigate it. Have an entire webpage dedicated to highlighting the disability-friendly nature of your hotel. The booking system should also be accessible, with an option to make special requests.

Offer Free Access to Mobility Equipment

Guests with mobility impairments often require wheelchairs or walking sticks to help them get around. Why not keep a few of these in stock? ou can head to a mobility aid supplier such as Breeze Mobility to browse for such equipment. Although guests may bring their own, you’ll really stand out as being attentive to their needs if they forget something important and you’re able to provide it for free.

Do an Accessibility Check of the Whole Hotel

Get an accessibility expert in to assess how accessible your entire premises are and what changes you could make. Are all areas of the building open to wheelchair users? That means bathrooms, the bar and restaurant, and the swimming pool. There’s nothing quite as demoralising for a guest as paying for a luxury hotel only to find out that sections of it are off-limits.

Train Your Staff to Be Understanding

The physical constraints on a guest with a disability are only half the problem. There’s also the fear that they will be treated poorly by staff members who don’t understand disability. From the language they use to recognising that not all disabilities are visible, this is the knowledge that needs to be taught. Once you have an educated staff, all guests will enter the hotel and immediately feel welcomed, understood, and looked after.

You opened your hotel to be as welcoming to as many as possible. You want their stay to be relaxing, stress-free, and enjoyable. Make sure these values apply to all. It begins with an accessible website that allows for close communication between your staff and your guests. Next, make sure you have disability equipment on hand and a fully accessible building. These steps, combined with a full understanding of and respect for guests with disabilities, are the key to being as welcoming as possible.