Seahorse Motel
The Seahorse motel is located in Chapel Street, 500 metres from the main strip of Cowes.
The motel has two accessible two bedroom units, one a motel room style and the other fully self-contained.
Each unit has wide entry doors and parking directly in front of the units. The parking bays are wide with ample room for wheelchair users.
Each bathroom is a full wet-room. The shower has a sliding shower head that is also removable. Portable shower chairs are provided. The toilet has side and rear handrails with a metre of clear space beside the toilet.
A full-length vanity unit is provided with lever taps on the hand basin.
The main bedrooms have a queen bed with room under the bed for a portable hoist. The second bedroom/ lounge area has two single beds again with room under the bed for a portable hoist. A couch is located between the beds that can be moved on request.
The kitchen area is large and open. The microwave is located above the bench and may be difficult to reach for wheelchair users.
The grounds of the motel contain a swimming pool with wide level access. Entry to the pool is via steps and a handrail is provided. Next to the steps is a wide in-water seating area.
Smiths Beach Phillip Island
Smiths beach is accessed from Back Beach Road. It provides the only accessible ocean beach access on Phillip Island. The carpark has 2 designated accessible parking bays adjacent to the path leading to the boardwalk.
An accessible toilet is located at the carpark. It has side and rear handrails There is an accessible water fountain located in the carpark.
Access to the beach is gained via a zig zagging wooden ramp. The ramp has a concrete base that accesses the hard sand. A newly built observation pavilion is situated halfway down the ramp and provides an excellent sheltered viewing position for those not wanting to venture onto the beach itself. It provides shade and weather protection.
Snapper House Bed and Breakfast
Snapper House Bed and Breakfast is located at 1 Snapper Court Rhyll. It is a 15 minute walk into the town of Rhyll.
Youki’s Fresh Sushi
Youki’s is located in Chapel Street just off the main street. It supplies a variety of fresh Sushi for take away or eaten in the cafe. Entry is through a wide door with level entry off Chapel Street. The display counter is low with a glass front easily visible by people of all heights including children and wheelchair users. The service and waiting area is spacious. The adjoining cafe is also spacious. Chairs are movable providing a range of seating options.
WTTC releases major new paper for Inclusive & Accessible Guidelines to aid global Travel & Tourism recovery
WTTC releases major new paper for Inclusive & Accessible Guidelines to aid global Travel & Tourism recovery
Providing accessible travel is both a social imperative and a business opportunity
London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today launches its new high-level guidelines for inclusion and accessibility in the sector which focus on the experience of travellers with disabilities and will help make the Travel & Tourism sector a more inclusive space.
These innovative and important guidelines were compiled on the basis of insights and frameworks developed by private sector leaders in Travel & Tourism, travel and disability experts, and research from intergovernmental organisations.
Divided into four pillars, the guidelines follow a similar structure to the High-Level Inclusion & Diversity Guidelines and Mental Health Guidelines WTTC released over the past six months.
The four key pillars include:
1. Developing an inclusive & accessible system
2. Creating safe spaces
3. Designing an engaging & relevant system
4. Exemplifying inclusion & accessibility
Highlights from these important guidelines include providing training to staff on disability awareness and how to support travellers with disabilities, as well as collaborating with other businesses in areas where there are gaps in accessibility knowledge, experience, and services.
The report also emphasises the importance of fostering a respectful environment at all locations and for all activities, specifically reminding staff that their attitude towards people with disabilities plays an integral role in making that customer feel welcome and included.
There is also an importance given to developing accessibility features that are clear, overt, and which such travellers do not require special assistance from staff to use.
Furthermore, the guidelines make clear that businesses should regularly and proactively engage travellers with disabilities in the creation of accessible products and services so that these meet their needs appropriately. They should also include accessibility features from the booking process, enabling travellers with disabilities to engage with the business before booking their travel service or product.
Staff should also be empowered to address customer concerns as they occur or to engage other staff members if and where necessary, and inclusive marketing should be developed to dignify representations of all people and authentically represent them.
Gloria Guevara, President & CEO, WTTC said: “WTTC is proud to release these important high-level guidelines, which will help Travel & Tourism businesses of all kinds, foster more accessible and inclusive environments.
“The Travel & Tourism sector is one of the most diverse in the world. As the report shows and according to the World Health Organization, almost everyone will temporarily or permanently experience disability at some point in their life, and about 15% of the global population live with some form of disability. It is therefore imperative that we are inclusive.
“Furthermore, throughout its very nature, the sector promotes cultural exchange and understanding, therefore it makes perfect sense that we reflect these values within the sector as well. We look forward to seeing these guidelines make real change within the workforce.”
Peter Kern, Vice Chairman and CEO, Expedia Group said: “Travel opens minds and drives better understanding between people from different cultures and identities, but sometimes travel isn’t inclusive of or accessible for people with disabilities or accessibility needs. We are proud to have collaborated with WTTC on the creation of Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines, a resource we will continue to collaborate on in future development, use in our own business and advocate for their adoption across the travel and tourism industry.”
Stacy Ritter, President and CEO, Visit Lauderdale said: “We applaud WTTC on the launch of their Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines. Travelers with disabilities should be embraced, welcomed and celebrated. Visit Lauderdale is committed to this, and we are proud to continue our inclusive and diverse global “Celebrate You” campaign which features disabled residents. To be truly authentic in promoting diversity and inclusion, we must include the disabled community.”
Chris Nassetta, President & CEO Hilton, WTTC Chair said: “The Travel & Tourism sector has a unique role to play in building greater understanding in our global community as we welcome travellers of all backgrounds and abilities,” said Chris Nassetta, President & CEO of Hilton and Chairman of WTTC. “WTTC’s Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines provide valuable insight for our industry as we continue on our journey to create truly inclusive and unforgettable experiences for all.”
John Sage, President, Accessible Travel Solutions and the author of the guidelines said: “People with disabilities (PwD’s) have historically encountered many accessibility challenges while traveling. Browsing, booking, flying, sightseeing, relaxing, and sleeping all present their own specific obstacles. Consequently, many PwD’s must spend many hours handling their own travel details or they stay home. WTTC’s Inclusive and Accessible Travel Guidelines are an important step forward in bringing accessibility into the mainstream thereby making travel accessible for all.”
To read the Inclusive & Accessible Travel Guidelines in full, please click here.
Accessible Tourism Identified As Game Changer for Destinations
Ensuring accessibility for tourists with specific access requirements can be a ‘game changer’ for destinations around the world as they look to bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic. A new set of Inclusive Recovery Guides from the World Tourism Organization, produced in partnership with the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the ONCE Foundation of Spain and Travability from Australia, makes clear the importance of placing inclusivity at the centre of recovery plans and provides key recommendations for achieving this.
Launched on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the UNWTO Inclusive Recovery Guide – Socio-Cultural Impacts of COVID-19: Issue I Persons with Disabilities, draws on the expertise of UNWTO’s Ethics Culture and Social Responsibility Department and its partners. While much progress has been made, the publication makes clear that persons with disabilities and seniors encounter barriers preventing them from fully enjoying tourism experiences, even more so during the pandemic. Now, as UNWTO leads the restart of tourism globally, this guide outlines steps that governments, destinations and companies should take to build back better, becoming more inclusive and competitive.
Accessibility as a priority
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism environments and services are often designed without considering the different access requirements that visitors and locals may have. The tourism sector must prioritize accessibility. This can be a real game changer for destinations and businesses, helping them recover from the crisis and grow back in a more inclusive and resilient way.”
This can be a real game changer for destinations and businesses, helping them recover from the crisis and grow back in a more inclusive and resilient way
Highlighting the potential benefits for more accessible destinations, the publication notes that, by 2050, one in six people worldwide will be aged 65 or over, rising to one in four in Europe and North America. Furthermore, data shows that the average spend of tourists with disabilities in Spain, for example is in excess of 800 euros, compared with just over 600 euros for tourists without disabilities.
Recommendations for inclusive recovery
The recommendations advocating for accessibility during the recovery of tourism insist on six main action areas:
Assistance in a crisis: Including accessibility during every stage of repatriation, which requires the backing of destinations and disabled peoples’ organizations (DPOs)
Adaptation of protocols: Follow UNWTO guidance on adapting general health and safety protocols, considering that customers may have different abilities and requirements
Inclusivity in post-pandemic tourism: Including the effective use of data to guide decisions on accessible tourism planning and adjusting accessibility policies and strategies to reflect post-COVID realities
Accessibility in business planning: Treating accessibility as a competitive advantage, improving customer service, and the application of harmonized international standards to enhance quality of life for all
Staff training and inclusion: Extending professional training to better cater for tourists with different abilities, and ensuring equal opportunities in the tourism workforce
Innovation and digital transformation: Embracing innovation to make travel and tourism safer, smarter and easier for all
The guidelines reflect UNWTO’s ongoing commitment to inclusive tourism, enshrined within The UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics, calling on signatories to facilitate tourism for persons with disabilities. This publication is also the first one in a planned series of thematic briefs from UNWTO’s Ethics, Culture and Social Responsibility Department, in its intent to provide guidance to our sector.
UNWTO and partners are asking administrations, destinations and companies, which have successfully incorporated accessibility in their mitigation measures, to share their stories through the questionnaire “Accessible Tourism Champions”, also launched today.
