Guidance on accessibility of large hotel premises and hotel chains

The British Standards Institution (BSI) worked together with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and VisitBritain to develop a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) that gives guidance on the accessibility and services offered to disabled people or people with a long-term health condition in the UK by large hotel premises and hotel chains.

In addition to the two sponsors EHRC and VisitBritain, a number of key stakeholders were part of a steering group providing input and feedback on the PAS.  The members of this group comprised:

    * Accor Hotels
    * Best Western
    * The British Hospitality Associations (BHA)
    * Centre for Accessible Environments
    * Department for Communities and Local Government
    * Hilton International Hotels
    * Institute of Hospitality
    * Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG)
    * Premier Inn (Whitbread Group plc)
    * RNIB
    * Tourism for All

The guidance document, "PAS 88:2008" provides information for large hotel premises and hotel chains seeking to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995.

PAS 88 contains principles of good practice based on the duty to make reasonable adjustments and provide equal standards of service as contained in the DDA.  It builds upon the good practice developed by marketing leaders within the hotel industry and has used VisitBritain’s National Accessible Scheme (NAS) as the basis of its content. It should be noted that the specifications do not constitute an official BSI Standard and use of the specifications cannot guarantee that service providers are in compliance with the DDA.

With over 10 million disabled people (and rising) in the UK spending an estimated £80 billion on goods and services, there is an increasing need for accessible goods and services in the future. Demand for accessible accommodation is growing, and the hospitality industry is starting to recognize that disabled people form an important consumer group. By improving accessibility in all areas of the hotel and its services hoteliers can ensure that they are opening their hotel to additional visitors.

Contents of PAS 88 Guidance on accessibility of large hotel premises and hotel chains:

    * Foreword
    * Introduction
    * Scope
    * Normative references
    * Terms and definitions
    * Access strategies
    * Risk assessments
    * Staff training
    * Accessible formats
    * Pre-arrival
    * Transport provisions
    * Car parking
    * Access routes to and around buildings
    * Entry and exits to premises
    * Movement around floors or levels (horizontal circulation)
    * Entrance hall and reception
    * Welcome pack and services
    * Corridors and passageways
    * Movement between floors and levels (vertical circulation)
    * Interior features and design
    * Communal areas
    * Lavatories and changing facilities in public areas
    * Accessible bedrooms
    * Accessible bathrooms
    * Internet access
    * Public telephones
    * Vending machines
    * Leisure facilities
    * Retail outlets, coffee shops and amenities
    * Surrounds and gardens
    * Check-out
    * Conferencing, banqueting and entertainment
    * Annex A - Useful contacts
    * Bibliography

Although the BSI website states that the document was: "Sponsored by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and VisitBritian (sic)", copies of the guidance document are not free of charge. Single copies may be purchased (costing GBP 50.00) and downloaded in PDF format from the BSI website

BSI's multi-user licensing scheme allows organisations to access multiple copies of the document for a higher annual fee.