Donegal Senator Nikki Bradley has called for a three-star cap on hotels that do not cater for the needs of people with disabilities.
The Fine Gael Senator has written to Fáilte Ireland to point out that their star-rating system does not account for hotels’ accessible facilities and an appropriate level of awareness and respect amongst staff.
Senator Bradley said: “No hotel should be given more than three stars if they cannot provide a high-quality service to people of all abilities.
“Integrating accessibility into the guidelines would encourage hotels to improve their services and experiences. I know from engaging with many hotels that they are enthusiastic about making these improvements, and this reform would guide and incentivise their efforts.”
Senator Bradley, who is an amputee and is a crutch user, said her campaign is based on lived experiences.
“I have had far too many difficult and uncomfortable situations in hotels due to a lack of appropriate facilities and design for people with disabilities,” she said.
“Unfortunately, I am not alone in experiencing these types of scenarios, and they are a daily occurrence for people with disabilities simply going about their lives.
“In its current criteria, the comprehensive guidelines only make minor reference to the use of universal design practice guidelines, and beyond that there is no more mention of disability or accessibility.
“There are many simple changes hotels could make and have a real difference for people with disabilities such as providing on-site parking close to entrances, modified room features, and ensuring there are working lifts.
“In many cases, these are not in place due to a lack of a person with lived experiences being at the table when designing and running hotels.
“This must be rectified and there is a real need for hotels and other establishments to take account of lived experiences when designing their businesses.
“Fáilte Ireland guidelines have rightly been updated in recent years to reflect the need to encourage hotels to shift to more sustainable practices. There is no reason why they cannot make a change now to place accessibility at the heart of their guidelines.
“People with disabilities and their families deserve to enjoy a night away and the best our hotels have to offer, and a change to these guidelines would be a major step in the right direction,” Senator Bradley concluded.
