Tag: hotels

Handiscover: 2 in 3 disabled people in Scotland say hotels do not meet accessibility needs


New European-wide research by Handiscover indicates that almost two thirds (62%) of disabled people in Scotland say that Hotels in which they have stayed have not met their accessibility needs.

Handiscover, a leading accessibility and disability data organisation, is now calling on the Hotel industry to prepare for a travel restart post-Covid adapted to all travellers, by improving their accessibility or accessibility information, something which is much needed, according to the survey.

Moreover, over half (52%) of those surveyed said that they did not have all accessibility information before they visited.

It’s thought that more than 14 million people in the UK live with a long term illness or disability requiring specific accessibility needs, highlighting the importance of this research for the hotel and hospitality industry.

Handiscover believes that if accessibility, accessibility information and greater training was in place across the travel industry, the EU economy could benefit by up to 25% against current level – that’s almost 196 Billion Euros.

To help businesses, Handiscover has now developed and released an industry leading ‘Accessibility Standard’ for Hotels which it provides free of charge to help hotels start working on their accessibility on their own.

Businesses needing help to improve accessibility can sign up for Handiscover’s Accessibility Management Program. The program includes accessibility data management and assessment, marketing expertise to help communicate accessibility to customers, and Accessibility & Disability Education to help the hotel industry recover in a post COVID world.

Magnus Berglund, Accessibility Director at Handiscover. said: “Improving accessibility in the hotel industry is not just a ‘nice’ thing to do, it is the ‘right’ thing to do and can generate huge increases in revenue for properties!

“The Handiscover Accessibility Management Program exists to help hotels, and other businesses, work with and improve accessibility in an easy way to the benefit of the day-to-day lives of millions of people who live with a disability.”

Sebastien Archambeaud CEO Handiscover added: “Ever since we launched Handiscover, our aim has simply been to use accessibility data to make booking accommodation easier for those with disabilities.

“We now want to take the knowledge and experience we have working with those with accessibility needs and help hotels and accommodation providers improve accessibility and knowledge.

“We want to let businesses know that improving accessibility is not a cost burden, but a means to actually improve business by catering to more customers”.

The research from Handiscover.com also revealed that 58% of the disabled population who required assistance say that staff at Hotels were not as knowledgeable about accessibility needs as they could have been – thus demonstrating the importance of accessibility training and education among staff, not just at hotels, but across industries.

Travelodge to open six hotels in the lead up to Christmas

Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain announces it is opening six hotels in the lead up to Christmas. This equates to an average of one hotel opening every 12 days. 

One of the new hotels is at South Gyle. Continue reading Travelodge to open six hotels in the lead up to Christmas

New Hotel for 100 Princes Street

The Red Carnation Hotel Collection is to open a hotel in Scotland for the first time, with the aim of making it the number one hotel in Edinburgh. The luxury hotel collection has announced plans to ‘respectfully renovate’ 100 Princes Street, transforming it into a highly exclusive retreat on Edinburgh’s most famous street.

With uninterrupted views of Edinburgh Castle, the property will replicate the boutique atmosphere of Forbes Five Star-rated sister property Hotel 41, which has retained the position of TripAdvisor’s number one hotel in London for over ten years as well as the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Best Hotel in the UK for the last three.

The award-winning hotel company behind the loving restoration of Ireland’s Ashford Castle, once home to the Guinness family, will bring the same meticulous care and attention to the listed building’s interior, embracing its history and heritage and using the finest local artisans and suppliers. 100 Princes Street will reopen in 2020 as Red Carnation Hotels’ 19th property worldwide.

Jonathan Raggett, Managing Director of Red Carnation Hotels, said: “It has been a dream of ours to open a hotel in Edinburgh for some time, and with the best address in the city, it was well worth the wait.

“Guests at 100 Princes Street will enjoy everything that makes Red Carnation so special, from our individually designed interiors to the signature dishes of our President and Founder Beatrice Tollman, delivered with passionate service, generous hospitality and a genuine commitment to the environment and communities in which we operate.”

New hotel opening creates affordable Edinburgh Fringe stays

Point A Hotels has released rooms for sale in its newest hotel in Edinburgh, meaning that nearly 4000 hotel nights will be newly available over the busy Edinburgh Fringe period, August 2nd – August 25th.

The Point A Hotel Edinburgh, will open on Monday (8th July) and as a special offer upon opening, the hotel will be offering a 20% discount for direct bookings on PointAHotels.com*.

The latest addition to the Point A Hotels budget boutique brand, Point A Edinburgh, will bring low-priced stylish rooms to the centre of the Scottish capital – the most visited destination in the UK outside of London – in time for the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Point A Edinburgh is located close to Haymarket Station, with 149 guest rooms (including 8 accessible rooms) and some featuring breath-taking views over Edinburgh’s iconic buildings.

It will feature a spacious, 24-hour hosted reception and a lobby lounge, where Point A’s signature Brekkie will be served daily, and refreshments will be available 24/7. It will also have an extended food and beverage offering that includes pre-mixed alcoholic drinks and miniatures offered for sale at the bar and hot food in the lounge including a selection of pizzas and chicken wings.

Within the new Edinburgh property, there will be free, superfast WiFi throughout the public areas and the guest rooms, which also feature luxury Hypnos beds with fabric headboards and throws from the Isle of Bute, power showers, mood lighting and a 43-inch Samsung Smart TV, with Google Chromecast which allows customers to watch their own content on the hotel TV, providing a home from home experience.

“Our Edinburgh hotel will be beautifully designed offering our guests a sense of style without a huge price tag,” commented Nic Wenn, Managing Director, Point A Hotels. “It is located centrally and will give those wishing to attend the Edinburgh Fringe easy access to catch one of the many great performances across the city.”

Guests of Point A Edinburgh will be able to take advantage of extra-value offers and deals at local bars and restaurants through Point A Hotels’ free-to-join signature loyalty programme, the A-List. Guests can sign up to the A-List at pointahotels.com to also receive a permanent 10% off all future bookings at any Point A Hotel.

The newest hotel will join Point A Hotels’ existing portfolio of seven modern, centrally-located UK hotels offering guests exceptional service and comfort at affordable prices. Six of the Point A Hotels are in London – Shoreditch, Liverpool Street, King’s Cross St Pancras, Paddington, Westminster and Canary Wharf – and one is in Glasgow, Scotland. A further hotel in London is due to open this summer in Kensington, located on West Cromwell Road.

* 20% discount applies to bookings for stays in July and August 2019 at Point A Edinburgh only with the discount code LAUNCH and made viawww.PointAHotels.com 

Edinburgh hotel shortlisted for AA Hospitality Award

Ahead of the prestigious AA Hospitality Awards, the AA has today revealed the shortlists across four of the twenty-three categories: Housekeeper of the Year Award, Food Service Award, Eco Hotel of the Year and Customers’ Choice Award. Continue reading Edinburgh hotel shortlisted for AA Hospitality Award

Bumper Birthday Bonanza: Jurys Inn to give away 300 free overnight stays

Jurys Inn marks 25th birthday

Celebrating a birthday in Scotland wouldn’t be the same without receiving the dreaded ‘birthday bumps’, however the Jurys Inn birthday festivities promise to be something you’ll want to get involved in! Continue reading Bumper Birthday Bonanza: Jurys Inn to give away 300 free overnight stays

It’s Gavin at the double!

Gavin Stirling 1One of The Roxburghe Hotel’s most esteemed team members was recognised at the 12th annual Scottish Hotel Awards last week. Concierge Gavin Stirling picked up the coveted Concierge of the Year crown for the second year running.

The glittering ceremony, held on Sunday 19 April at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow, was a night of celebrations for staff at the four-star capital hotel, as they congratulated the hospitality star on retaining his much-deserved title.

37-year-old Gavin, who has worked at the Roxburghe for six years and in hospitality for 14 years, has been credited as an ambassador for the hotel and the wider hospitality industry in Scotland. Heading up a dedicated concierge team, Gavin’s welcoming nature and unrivalled desire to go above and beyond for guests has secured his place at the top of the title race for a consecutive year.

The hotel, located on the corner of Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square, was also named regional winner of Business Hotel of the Year for Edinburgh and the Lothians in recognition of its vibrant restaurant, luxurious bedrooms and state-of-the-art resources for modern business travellers.

Marcello Ventisei, general manager of The Roxburghe Hotel, said: “Gavin has done The Roxburghe proud yet again at this year’s Scottish Hotel Awards. His unwavering dedication to our clients and the hotel as a whole is fantastic and I’m delighted to see it duly recognised among the industry yet again.

“We’re lucky to have a fantastic team on board, all of whom work exceptionally hard to ensure the highest standards at the hotel – our regional award for Business Hotel of the Year is testament to that.”