THE ACCESS MAP
The Hospitality Industry taking charge of their own Accessibility Information.
The “accessibility information industry”, feels like the early days of the internet to me.
Countless “accessibility websites” wanting to display YOUR accessibility information, on THEIR website. And for that website to be seen as the #1 accessibility resource on the internet.
Importantly, for them to be a third-party wall between your own business and accessibility-information seeking guests/diners (and to eventually charge you for that traffic perhaps?).
The Good News.
The accessibility market is tiny.
So there just isn’t the financial attraction for people who want to be “the accessible Tripadvisor” (although, there is one “accessibility review” website which stands head and shoulders above all others in this field – but more about them later).
In the main though, these websites are run by people who are in some way disabled themselves. People who can see the benefit of having all accessibility information in one place.
Their place though. Not yours.
Standardisation.
This is the Holy Grail for anyone searching for accessibility information.
Disabled people want to find information in a standardised format – so that they know exactly where to look for particular aspects of your accessibility details.
It’s quicker.
And as this standardised information is not available on your own website, prospective guests are drawn to these third party websites instead.
Accessibility information on hotel/restaurant websites?
I’ve seen everything from very comprehensive Access Statements, (the good) to a simple “We have accessible rooms” buried in a website’s FAQs (the bad).
And even just a wheelchair symbol, with “We are accessible” written below it (the downright ugly).
“We are accessible”.
What does that actually mean? Accessible to who? And in what way?
All that happens in this case, is that the prospective guest/diner has to contact yourself, explain their own particular needs, and ask your staff whether your business meets these needs.
Which is a time-consuming process for all involved – including for your very own business too.
Answering the same questions, over and over again, costs your own staff time. Which costs your business money.
So prospective guests/diners are drawn to a third-party website instead. Where there IS some kind of standardisation. And the information that they seek is readily available.
And, as you will be painfully aware from the online booking industry, as soon as you put a third party between guest and supplier, you increase your own costs.
The "Regulation" Solution (which I DON'T agree with).
Existing regulations require you to provide accessible accommodation/dining facilities (with a few exceptions).
However, there is currently no regulation which forces you to display information about those accessible accommodation/dining facilities in a standard format.
I have already heard calls for the existing regulations to be tightened though, forcing hospitality business owners to display (and maintain) a well-publicised Access Statement for their business.
And I’m totally against this. And for three different reasons:
First, as soon as government gets involved, the cost of complying with these new regulations becomes overly expensive.
A further tax on doing business.
And the last thing that the hospitality industry needs – is more taxation.
The second reason, is “time”.
Your time.
Creating, and maintaining, an Access Statement for your business, takes time and effort.
Again, this time costs your business money.
Which eventually just costs guests/diners (either in a more expensive product, or in a lower level of service – as these additional costs have to be met in some way).
And finally, and this is just a personal reason:
Deciding where to spend my money.
It’s a sad fact that not all businesses want disabled customers.
And those that don’t, tend to be the ones who hide their accessibility information away in the FAQs (or don’t even publish it at all, and just ignore any requests for said information).
So I use the ease of which accessibility information is available, as a guide as to whether I want to patronise that business at all. If accessibility information is only available in your FAQs, or is not published at all, then I tend to take my business elsewhere.
And I know that I’m not alone in doing this.
I even have able-bodied friends who do the same. Not because they actually need these facilities themselves, but they use how easy it is to find this information as an indicator of the service levels that they too can expect (in a “well, if they make this much effort for their disabled guests, I should be expecting a similar elevated service level too” kind of way).
A practice that I’m always advocating for.
So what's the answer?
Eventually, I WOULD like to see a standardised Access Statement on every hotel or restaurant website.
But for this to have been done voluntarily (the most cost-effective way of doing this). Believe it or not, disabled guests don’t want to be seen as a burden – and especially not to be seen as a burden to your business.
So, to answer this need now, I have created The Access Map.
Standardised information for all accessible hotels, apartments, restaurants, coffeeshops and visitor attractions in the UK.
And, importantly for your own SEO activities, the map is based on Google Maps (as Googlebot will see every interaction with the map, and will see that the information contained on the map, leads directly to your own website).
And even more importantly, the map is based on the regular Google Map that millions of people use every day. So users of the map will also be able to see exactly what other businesses/facilities are nearby, or where you are in relation to other facilities/attractions that they plan to use/visit.
And the best part? The Access Map is 100% FREE.
All that’s required on your part, is that you complete a simple form (most questions are multiple-choice questions, so each form should take less than 5 minutes to complete).
This information is then added to the map – and is linked to your very own website.
So what's the catch? Who funds this facility?
It’s true. Nothing is truly free. Ultimately, somebody has to pick up the tab.
In this case though, it’s my own Patreon supporters who fund this service.
And to encourage UK hospitality business owners to also become my Patreon supporters, they will enjoy certain benefits:
On the map itself: The businesses who fund this service, are highlighted as being supporters. That they actually make this facility possible in the first place.
On the information window on the map: The accessibility information is headed by the main photograph* of your business (a photograph that I will simply copy from your own website, and host myself – so there is absolutely no cost to yourself, or no additional effort required on your part)
And on the map “Legend” (which appears on the left of the map): This legend lists all businesses featured on the map, in their respective categories. With all supporters being listed ahead of non supporters.
So it’s either a simple 5-minute job – or an optional funding solution which takes just a few clicks more.
Supporter's Photographs.
A single image is displayed with each Supporter’s accessibility information. Differentiating them from their competitors.
I simply copy this image from your own website, resize it as required, and host it locally – so there is absolutely nothing extra for you to do.
Residual SEO Benefits.
It is no mistake that Google’s own map service has been used as the basis for the Access Map project.
Google will see every interaction on the map, and will see that you help fund the project.
And this is just educated speculation (as to how this will influence the Google algorithm): but having your website linked to, and featured near the top of all other information on the map, should definitely be seen in a positive way by Google.
And a quick word about Patreon (which will help put your mind at rest).
Patreon is a US company.
So, by default, all amounts are displayed in USD.
However, there is an option, at the very foot of all Patreon pages, that allows you to select the displayed currency.
This is only necessary before you actually log in though – as, once you are, the correct currency amounts are displayed.
And that existing accessibility review site?
I’m still not sure of their ultimate intentions though (as I have no connection with them).
But as they’ve been around for a few years now, still link directly to hotel and restaurant websites, and were founded for good reasons, I’m pretty sure that their intentions are pure.
Euan MacDonald, who founded the website, suffered from Motor Neurone Disease himself. Sadly, Euan’s no longer with us – but the other trustees of Euan’s Guide continue the website in his honour.
And if you have already been reviewed on the Euan’s Guide website, or are reviewed there at some point in the future, I will also link to these reviews.
So whether guests/diners come to you directly from your Access Map listing, or if they come via your Euan’s Guide link contained therein, they will be coming freely and directly to your own website.
So what now?
If you would like to add your property to this social project, please complete one of the following forms (both forms are mainly composed of multiple choice questions, and should take no longer than 5 mins to complete):
Business Supporter – Add Accessible Hotel, B&B or Apartment
Business Supporter – Add Accessible Restaurant or Café
Thank you for contributing your details to the Access Map project (and extra-special thanks if you also decide to help fund this niche, but very important, resource).