Beechwood Hotel – case study
The Beechwood Hotel in Norfolk has made a number of adjustments to meet the needs of disabled people. By creating a disabled-friendly environment the hotel has significantly increased the number of disabled guests who frequently visit.
The hotel has three specially adapted ground floor bedrooms, which contain open showers with seats and handrails for people who use a wheelchair and disabled toilets. Doors throughout the hotel have been widened to ensure people who use a wheelchair can easily access the restaurant and bar area.
With 24 hours’ notice the hotel can provide visually impaired guests with a Braille menu.
Don Birch, one of the owners of the Beechwood Hotel, is constantly thinking about the needs of his disabled guests. When the new entrance was being designed he thought it made sense that, as well as improving the look of the entrance, it also met the requirements of the DDA. The car parking spaces are currently being adapted to include disabled spaces.
Don says, “Providing an excellent service to guests is about listening and trying to meet their needs. Staff have been given disability training to improve their understanding of disability and help them communicate effectively with disabled guests.”
The hotel also employs four people with a learning disability on a part-time basis.
As Don comments, “When making adjustments it is important to remember that disability is much wider than people who use a wheelchair.”