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You have probably heard or read that good accommodation should be accessible. It often happens that some terms become popular and their true meaning is lost.

In this case, you probably identify accessibility with the presence of ramps, the width of doors, Braille signage or any other adaptation of space for people with disabilities.

The truth is that this is only one side of accessibility.

But... what is accessibility?

To put it simply, it is a complex concept ;)

When we talk about accessibility, there are four main dimensions that may or may not be present to determine how accessible a place or experience is. In other words, just as an accommodation can be accessible, a museum, a national park, or a tourist attraction can be (or should be) accessible.

Dimensions

So, let's see what are the dimensions of accessibility that you can think about for your accommodation, even if they have traditionally been discussed in the context of cultural heritage.

• Cultural accessibility

This dimension is related to developing and communicating an educational message. Although it is generally associated with the basic knowledge a visitor needs to understand and interpret a cultural resource, you can also bring it into the realm of your business.

By getting to know your guests, thinking about who they are and what they expect from their visit, you can help them generate the knowledge they need to enjoy their stay more.

No one knows your community like you do: share that knowledge and make your guests' stay a culturally rich experience.

• Time accessibility

Time Accessibility has to do with when a site can be accessed. It is conditioned by schedules, seasons, weather, etc.

Where do you see a similar aspect in your accommodation?

Probably check-in and check-out times. It's a good time to review what times you allow and why, or if you've had problems or guests have asked for additional time because it worked better for them.

• Spatial accessibility

  We can think about this dimension based on two aspects:

  • How easy it is to get to your hostel
  • How easy it is to move around inside the hostel

You can improve the first aspect by sending a link to the location of your accommodation to your guests, or by giving them clear explanations on how to get there if it is complicated.

The second aspect has to do with the size and layout of your accommodation. If it is small, you may not need to put signs to indicate where each room is located, but if it is large, it is better to have them. Remember that if your guests usually speak different languages, adding drawings to the signs can make it easier for them to understand.

Finally, we must not forget the accessibility of the space, which is designed to facilitate access for people with disabilities. You can get advice on how to improve and adapt your spaces to create more inclusive and friendly facilities for everyone.

• Economic dimension of accessibility

The fourth and final dimension we will look at has to do with price. If elsewhere we can talk about the value of a ticket, in your accommodation we think about rates.

If earlier it was a good time to think about your reception hours, now is a good time to think about when, how and why you set your rates and why they are your rates and not others. Have you ever had problems with this?

So, how to have an accessible accommodation?

The answer, as is often said, it depends.

On what does it depend? On which dimensions you focus on: one, more than one, or all.

You can review the information you provide about your location, the hours you set, the layout and signage of your space, and the value of your rates. You will know how accessible your accommodation is and what you can do to improve it.

To conclude

In this article, we explore the concept of accessibility, thinking about how it is commonly thought of and how complex it really is. We review its dimensions and apply them to your business.

Now it's your turn: how will you make your accommodation more accessible?

Photo by Jean-Frederic Fortier at Unsplash.

Source: Presentación y adaptación de los conceptos presentados en Treserras, J. (2005). El patrimonio como generador de desarrollo a partir del turismo. V Jornada sobre Gestió del Patrimoni Sostenible, Fundació Abertis, Barcelona/Madrid.