SPECIAL REPORT
Improve and promote your accessible accom By Mandy Clarke, Editor
Did you know that one-in-five Australians live with a disability? And for many, good holiday experiences are highly desired but a distant dream. This month I investigate how well our short stay management rights sector caters to a largely forgotten market and I ask if we are missing out on massive opportunities?
There is a misconception that accessible accommodation means fully wheelchair adapted apartments or guest rooms, but this is not always the case. Why? Because there is a 'no one size fits all' approach to disability, because everyone is different and disability doesn’t discriminate. Michael Johnson, CEO of Tourism Accommodation Australia, told me that catering for people with disabilities is very much part and parcel of the industry and many hotels do it well. New properties must provide a percentage of accessible rooms to meet the requirements of the building code, but he notes that some may not fully promote their accessible offerings. He said: “It makes sense for accommodation providers to market their user-friendly facilities to people with disabilities.” Peter Yeo, the Honorary President of the PointZero5 Disability Campaign says finding accurate information when booking accommodation is a hurdle for people with disabilities.
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It is common for people with disabilities to face barriers that non-disabled people do not. When travelling, often times this is not just down to a lack of suitable accessible accommodation but because they are deprived of good information, appropriate facilities, and positive attitudes.
When a person with a disability books a room, it is likely that the occupancy level of the entire property increases. Peter acquired a life changing physical disability after a fall over twenty years ago and when he began to use a wheelchair, he says it was a challenge to find suitable accommodation in Noosa. His struggle inspired the “National Disability Campaigns Checklist” which rates accessible accommodation. Today Peter remains shocked that the industry still isn’t fully paying attention to people with disabilities. “Why aren’t more people improving their accessible accommodation? They are missing out on 25 percent
of the population by not making some simple changes” he said. According to Peter, it would make sense for resorts to create fully wheelchair accessible bathrooms when they renovate. It would be no more expensive than a standard bathroom renovation but would make life much easier for people with disabilities. Queensland Tourism Industry Council Chief Executive Daniel Gschwind argues that it is important for the tourism industry to embrace the oftenoverlooked disability and
INDUSTRY
accessibility-challenged sector of the visitor economy and to make every effort to be more inclusive and welcoming to all. “Ensuring that tourism is accessible to all is not only an important step in achieving a more inclusive Queensland, but it also translates to better business. “Prior to the pandemic, people living with an accessibility challenge or disability contributed a staggering $10.8 billion in tourism spending to the Australian economy. The significant dollars highlight the extent of the opportunity for our tourism sector and operators. “Despite the clear benefits, there are still gaps within our industry in providing accessible experiences and facilities to all guests. “For this reason, QTIC as part of the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC), has consulted with TravAbility to produce an accessibility self-assessment module. The module provides businesses with a toolkit to ResortNews | March 2022
