TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Hotels

Step-by-Step Guide to What Hotel Rooms Need (from a disabled dating coach and comedian)

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Comedian in wheelchair petting a dog that has a walking aid from Twitter
“We all know each other” comedian and dating coach Lakhani wrote on his Twitter feed.

In a guest blog for wheelchairtravel.org, comedian and self-described dating coach on wheels Amin Lakhani writes a detailed guide to assess whether a hotel room meets his needs (he has muscular dystrophy and uses a power wheelchair ). Lakhani writes, “from my experience, accessible can mean vastly different things to different hotels, so my goal is to get 100% confirmation.” His detailed lists and sample letters are a lesson in advance planning—as well as candor and confidence that can be used as a rubric for anyone wondering how to make an accommodation wheelchair accessible. 

OUR TAKE: Being disability accessible has always been difficult because every disability has a spectrum and it is impossible to be accessible for everyone.  Mr. Lakhani gives the travel industry fresh insights as to how he prioritizes accessible features that mean something to him, while also providing a turnkey follow up e-mail template that guests can use during the booking process.  Additionally, the payoff for hotels is that there will fewer surprises at arrival, thereby reducing ill-will as well as the likelihood of possible litigation. 

Why Airbnb Is Sponsoring the Olympics and Paralympics through 2028

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Man on a bike with three wheels training with a helmet on.

Airbnb has signed sponsorship agreements with the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee through 2028, a move aimed at offering alternative housing options around the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The joint announcement in SportsTravelMagazine.com also explains that Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere, according to its Cofounder Joe Gebbia. “We are proud that the Olympic (including Paralympic) spirit will be carried by our community.”

OUR TAKE: Highlighting the pride and accomplishments of athletes on the world stage is brilliant marketing—but there’s more you should know. Japan’s laws require that hotels have only one accessible room for the disabled which has caused a torrent of criticism for the organizers. (This for a country whose fertility rate is so low that one economist estimated that, if it were to continue at the same level, by the year 2400 there would be no one left in the country). Airbnb hopes to supplement the dearth of hotel rooms available with accessible homes. 

Reverse Mentoring: When Hotel Professionals Learn From Hospitality Students

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young woman speaks to the camera about hospitatity services
photo courtesy UT Knoxville News

This is a brilliant idea we need to see replicated: Students in a hospitality and tourism class at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville spent spring semester blending classroom learning with real-world experience to improve accessibility in Knoxville’s hospitality industry. But the learning didn’t stop there, according to a piece in the UT Knoxville News. They then presented to staff and management at the Crowne Plaza, Downtown Hilton Knoxville, and Greater Knoxville Hospitality Association in March and April, offering tips and strategies for better-accommodating people with disabilities. READ MORE

Virgin Hotel in Chicago First U.S. Hotel to Use New Accessibility Rating System

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Ad for a virgin hotel in Chicago that says step in! Outdoor shot of people entering hotel with souvenirsOne of his biggest challenges faced by anyone with accessibility needs is finding information on the accessibility of hotels that they can truly trust, writes Richard Branson, founder, and CEO of Virgin Hotels. Branson, almost always ahead of the curve, found the solution in Mobility Mojo, which specializes in detailed hotel accessibility assessments. According to the story, there are more than a billion people globally with a disability—and more than 50% of these people choose not to travel because of a lack of information on accessibility.  By using the website tool on Virgin Hotel sites, travelers can easily see the available accessibility features upfront. See an example of the travel service rating of a Chicago Virgin Hotel, here.  

Our take: Digital solutions such as Mobility Mojo are on the rise, as are people with disabilities looking for answers. This particular solution is clear and easy to understand and offers and an overall rating for people who don’t need to know every detail. Congrats to Virgin Hotels for being a trailblazer! 

 

 

Is Fear Keeping You From Tackling Accessibility Challenges?

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mom and dad hug their grown son who is smiling. son has Down's syndrome.Apart from the obvious moral arguments, people with disabilities comprise a huge and growing market, explains Catherine Roberts in a piece for Travel Mole. She writes that while people working in the travel industry love to share that passion for travel with other people—and hopefully inspire them to travel, too—the industry still has a way to go when it comes to accessibility needs. Roberts comments make sense: “One of the reasons is fear. But we don’t have to be perfect straight away. We just have to start a dialogue with travelers who live with disabilities – and be willing to say yes, we’ll try to help. We can ask openly about holiday requirements, as we would with any client.” Read more of her insightful comments, here.

Our take: Many people fear that their attempt to become accessible will fall short. Every disability has a spectrum and it’s almost impossible to be 100% accessible. The goal is trying and making it known that you are.