Hospitality Customers Want Better Accessibility

The hospitality industry needs to invest more in disabled access facilities, such as wheelchair platform lifts, as the majority of customers believe there are not currently enough.

According to a recent report by Hospitality Guest Experience Management (HGEM), 71 per cent of consumers think more attention needs to be brought to accessibility in the hospitality industry.

Findings revealed 62 per cent of Gen-Z thought this to be the case, while this increased to 73 per cent for those over 66 years old.

Commenting on the figures, founder of the Blue Badge Access Awards Robin Sheppard stated: “The statistics in this report shock, embarrass and intrigue in equal measure. More importantly they make you realise that what is currently normal is not acceptable.”

It was added that a “new normal” needs to be established to make hospitality venues more accessible for everyone.

HGEM’s report concluded that many businesses might be losing custom due to their lack of facilities, as 30 per cent of customers said they would leave a venue if disabled access was inadequate.

Furthermore, more than half would not return to a place where accessibility was difficult.

As well as it being essential that hospitality venues are accessible for all, the same goes for transport hubs.

This is why Sudbury Hill Underground Station recently installed passenger lifts to platforms, taking the number of step-free stations in London to 90, Intelligent Transport revealed.

The Piccadilly Line station had to undergo changes to the Grade II-listed ticket hall in order to allow for the installation of the passenger lift.