Everyday accessibility: What makes a hotel room accessible?

When many travellers arrive at a hotel after a long journey, the first thing they do is flop down on the bed and relax. But for guests with disabilities, it’s different. Rather than move straight into relaxation, they often begin their holiday by taking a careful look around the hotel room, assessing whether its features will meet their needs comfortably and safely.

For hotels, accessibility isn’t just a nice to have; it’s essential. With more than one billion people worldwide living with disabilities—and an ageing global population—the demand for accessible hotel rooms is on the rise. Accessible tourism, which includes both elderly travellers and those with accessibility needs, is the fastest-growing yet most underserved segment of the travel market. In fact, 50% of people with disabilities say that they'd travel more frequently if they could be certain that accessible facilities were available.

So, what exactly makes a hotel room accessible? Let's take a closer look.

Accessible design: What’s working well

1. Well-chosen bed height and space underneath: Adjustable beds are ideal, but having a bed height that's low enough for wheelchair users to transfer from their chair onto the mattress is essential. And it also makes getting in and out of bed easier for guests of shorter stature as well as older travellers, who need to sit comfortably at the edge with feet firmly on the floor, to stand up safely.

   The bed should also have enough clearance underneath for guests who require a portable hoist to transfer from their wheelchairs. When guests have a mobility need that requires a hoist, transferring without one becomes difficult, increasing the strain on both the guest and anyone assisting them.

   When beds are too low to the ground, it can force people to lean forward, which increases the risk of falling. Beds set too high can leave feet dangling, resulting in unsteady standing and unstable transfers. By hitting this sweet spot of bed height, hotels can help guests get in and out of bed more securely and start each day with confidence.

2. Moveable desk chair: Having a moveable chair at the desk might seem like a small detail, but it's an important one. Fixed chairs can block access, making it impossible for wheelchair users to comfortably use the desk space. A chair that's easy to move ensures wheelchair users can roll right up to the desk without any hassle.

   A moveable chair also benefits guests who use other mobility aids as well as those who simply prefer flexibility in how they use their space. In reality, most guests appreciate being able to adjust furniture easily so that the room can accommodate their needs—whether that's games with children, morning exercises or space for extra luggage.

3. Low-pile carpet: Thick pile carpets and mats restrict maneouverability, so they should be avoided. The choice of low pile carpet makes it easier for wheelchair users and guests with mobility devices to manoeuvre comfortably around the room, without getting wheels or walkers caught. Smooth floor surfaces with low resistance are best for ensuing easy movement of mobility devices.

   But the choice of floor isn't only about easier movement—carpet also helps absorb sound, which is especially important for guests who wear hearing aids or other hearing devices. Many hearing-device users find it challenging to filter out background noises. Carpets help reduce ambient noise, making conversations clearer, television-watching easier and the overall space more comfortable.

4. A telephone, switches and outlets beside the bed: Positioning the telephone, light switches and outlets right beside the bed allows guests to easily control lighting, charge devices or call reception, which is especially helpful for guests with limited mobility or those who have low vision or blindness. For guests using power wheelchairs, accessible outlets next to the bed also ensure that they can conveniently charge their wheelchair overnight.

   This feature makes sleeping in a hotel more convenient for everyone—allowing them to quickly charge a phone while catching some shut eye or easily switch on a lamp when getting up during the night.

5. Mirror placed at a lower height: Positioning mirrors at a lower height ensures wheelchair users or guests of shorter stature can comfortably see themselves. This thoughtful detail makes personal care routines easier and more dignified. Families travelling with young children or anyone who prefers sitting during grooming or makeup routines will also appreciate the convenience. Alternatively full length mirrors also work well in accommodating the full range of human statures.

6. Clear spaces around the bed: Providing a clear space at least 90 cm wide on one side of the end and at its foot allows for wheelchair users to easily transfer onto the bed and to allow another person to assist with the transfer, if required.

Additional improvements to consider

1. AC, heat controls and light switches within easy reach: Placing heating thermostat, air conditioning and additional lighting controls at a height that's comfortably reachable from a seated position—and ensuring they're free of furniture or other obstacles—would further enhance comfort and independence for guests using wheelchairs.
   
   
2. Accessible security features: Adding a buzzer outside the room paired with a flashing light inside ensures guests who are deaf or have hearing difficulties know when someone is at the door. At the same time, the buzzer benefits guests who have low vision or are blind, as they rely on sound to know a visitor has arrived. A second, lower spyhole on the door is also important for wheelchair users, people of shorter stature, and children traveling with families to safely see who's at the door before opening it.
   
   
3. Accessible safety and practical information: Providing emergency and safety information in accessible formats is extremely important. Emergency instructions should be easy to find, highly visible and available in both braille and large print. It’s also important to display emergency contact details clearly and within easy reach, ideally placed in multiple locations around the room, such as near the bed, on the desk, and in the bathroom, so that it’s within easy reach at times.

Practical information, including Wi-Fi passwords, dining options, and TV instructions, should also be readily available. By keeping this information together in a binder and presenting it in large, clear font as well as Braille, hotels can ensure every guest can easily and independently access this information.

1. Additional hearing accessibility features: Hotels can offer additional accessibility features to support guests who are deaf or have hearing difficulties, such as personal alert systems, which use vibration to signal important sounds like door alarms; closed-caption TVs, which allow guests to comfortably follow dialogue and programming; teletypewriters (TTY phones), which enable guests to communicate with reception via typed messages over the phone; and rooms located in quieter areas of the hotel, reducing background noise and improving overall comfort and ease of communication.
2. Additional visual accessibility features: Hotels can further enhance accessibility for guests who have low vision by providing room numbers in braille and easy-to-read fonts, contrasting signage and adjustable lighting. Extra lamps placed strategically throughout the room—such as on writing desks or near reading chairs—can help guests easily navigate and fully use the space after dark. Avoid glass top tables as these can be difficult to see and can cause collisions.

Providing a mix of contrasting furniture and object colours can also significantly improve guests’ experiences. For instance, hotels can use contrast to make objects more visible, such as placing a dark-coloured tissue box in a white bathroom or ensuring that there are dark surfaces available—such as desk or dresser tops—to make lighter objects, like white key cards, easier to see.

Creating hotel rooms that work for everyone

While it might not be feasible to make every room in a hotel fully accessible to every guest, small improvements make a significant difference for guests with disabilities. And many of these adjustments—such as bed height, moveable furniture and controls near the bed—improve the experience of all guests. Thoughtful details—from mirror placement to signage clarity—can greatly enhance comfort, independence and safety.

An accessible hotel doesn’t just benefit one guest—it also drives spending across the local economy. By proactively designing accessible rooms, hotels not only accommodate the growing number of older travellers and travellers with disabilities, they also benefit from the extended group, companions, friends and families traveling with these guests, all of whom may visit nearby businesses, restaurants and attractions.  Image of a hotel room with a gap under the bed, bedside tables with light switches and phone, a dressing table with low mirror.Image of a hotel room with a gap under the bed, bedside tables with light switches and phone, a dressing table with low mirror.Image of a hotel room with a gap under the bed, bedside tables with light switches and phone, a dressing table with low mirror.