Scandic Announces Its Most Accessible Hotel Ever

The newly opened Scandic Oslo Airport Hotel has wheelchair access in all 245 rooms.

Each room also serves as a haven for allergy sufferers, who have also been given full consideration in all the public spaces in the hotel.

Scandic has tried to think of all forms of physical disability: mobility issues, allergies and impaired sight or hearing. Scandic Oslo Airport is the first hotel in the Nordic region to be approved by the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association (NAAF).

“I haven’t seen any hotel in Europe that has worked so consistently on accessibility for all types of physical disability in the way that we have,” states Magnus Berglund, Disability Coordinator at Scandic.

“We want all guests, whether they have mobility issue, allergies or impaired sight or hearing, to feel welcome and enjoy the same value for money as guests without a disability.”

Smart solutions for all needs

Scandic has thought of smart solutions and designs for everyone, with many good examples at the new hotel. For guests in a wheelchair, there are extra wide doors, a lowered reception desk and power sockets in the lobby for convenient charging of electric wheelchairs.

In the rooms, all the facilities can be reached from a wheelchair, and the same is true of the breakfast buffet, where everyone can reach everything.

For guests with impaired sight, there are contrast markings on the stairs and contrast colours in the rooms, bathrooms and corridors. On top of that, a 30 metre long strip of lights set into the floor makes it easy for everyone to find their way to the hotel reception.

“The challenge has been to accommodate as many needs as possible,” continues Magnus Berglund. “Those who have allergies will be pleased to know that all our material choices have been approved by NAAF and for guests with impaired hearing, we have induction loops, hearing loops and visual and vibrating alarms.”

Invisible adaptations

The hotel’s adaptations for disabled guests may be discreet, but our ambitious accessibility work covers all parts of the hotel. During the construction process, Scandic’s Norwegian organisation, architects and designers collaborated with disability organisations and NAAF.

“We have followed our own accessibility standard, with its 110 points, all our team members have been trained in accessibility issues and we are the first hotel chain in the world to have placed key accessibility information on the website of each hotel to make it easy and convenient to plan your trip,” explains Magnus Berglund. “

I think the fact that one of the first major conference bookings came from a Norwegian disability organisation confirms how well we’ve done.”

A few examples from Scandic Oslo Airport

• All 245 rooms have extra wide doors to give easier access for guests in wheelchairs.
• All 245 rooms, except for the four rooms adapted for guide dogs, serve as a haven for allergy sufferers, who have also been given full consideration in all the public spaces in the hotel.
• There are 25 disabled rooms, 20 of which are on the ground floor close to the conference facilities, restaurant and car park. Four of the disabled rooms are adapted for guests with guide dogs.
• In the disabled rooms, everything can be reached from a wheelchair, including keyholes, mirrors and hooks.
• All lighting switches on and off from the height-adjustable beds and heating is controlled using the TV remote.
• In the corridors, the fire extinguishers can be reached from a wheelchair.
• The reception desk has been lowered to make it easy to check in from a wheelchair. The lobby has power sockets for convenient charging of electric wheelchairs.
• Everything on the breakfast buffet can be reached from a wheelchair.
• The choice of materials throughout the hotel has been approved by the Norwegian Asthma and Allergy Association (NAAF).
• The breakfast buffet includes gluten- and lactose-free bread and no garnish is used.
• Braille and spoken announcements in the lift make use easier for guests with impaired vision.
• Contrast markings on all steps and contrast colours in the rooms, bathrooms and corridors.
• A 30 metre long strip of lights set into the floor shows the way from the street to reception.
• For increased safety, we can provide alarm clocks that hear the fire alarm and then vibrate under the guest’s pillow.
• The conference facilities and reception have hearing loops.
• In disabled rooms, the alarm is both visual and acoustic, and the telephone has an induction loop.

For more information, please contact:

Magnus Berglund, Disability Coordinator, Scandic, tel: +46 709 73 5077
Jessica Agert, Media Relations Manager, Scandic, tel: +46 709 73 5013
e-mail: jessica.agert@scandichotels.com
 

 Scandic Hotels is an ENAT Member