See what three Hotel General Managers/Managing Directors say about the opportunity of employing disabled people. Could this be a solution to the skills gap in the Hotel Industry? Or are the difficulties insurmountable?
In the third part of our accessibility series, Arnold Fewell helps identify the simple fixes that everybody should have done for disabled guests
The Paralympics from Rio are about to hit our TV screens. We can sit back and watch these brilliant athletes perform and admire their skills and determination to overcome adversity, but how well would your business be prepared if one of the athletes came to your hotel? Would they want to come back? And are you providing for their additional needs?
Housekeepers can make a much better impression on disabled guests, say Arnold Fewell FIH and Christoph Hoffmann MIH
For hotels to embrace accessibility, they need to invest in training from people that really understand what those with disabilities are looking for, says Arnold Fewell
I lay in bed at 10.45pm in a London hotel when the fire alarms went off. I had not been given a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) when I checked in and there was nothing specific about the evacuation of a permanent wheelchair user in the room. As a former hotelier I knew I was probably safer staying in the room. If smoke came under the door I could use wet towels and the door would withstand fire for about 45 minutes. It was still scary as I wondered what was happening.
I was judging some industry awards recently and was talking to a fellow judge; suddenly we started talking about teaspoons and in this case the lack of them. We were at a large, five star establishment in London. The teaspoons were beautiful silver, immaculately polished but there were not enough of them. People had to ask for more and the waitress who was immaculately turned out with a beautiful smile had to disappear and get more. Judging by the length of time she was away I suspect she was collecting dirty teaspoons as she returned to the kitchen and having to wash them. Which do I remember most the lovely venue or the lack of teaspoons?
Arnold Fewell, Managing Director of AVF Marketing says hotels may pride themselves on good diversity practices, but does that include looking out for disabled staff and guests?
I stayed in a hotel last weekend and had a nightmare with a Housekeeper’s trolley. I accept that we were situated next to a laundry room and staff needed to go in and out. What I objected to was the trolley that was frequently left outside my room which meant I could not get out of my room. On our last morning we had to negotiate this impediment four times as we went downstairs for breakfast and then check out. If I had been on my own I would have had to shout for help and then hope someone heard me. This could have been so easy to avoid.