There are 16 million Brits living with some form of disability. That’s one in four. Yet two-thirds say they skip holidays because they can’t find suitable accommodation. The problem isn’t always a shortage of accessible holiday lets. It’s because information around accessibility is inconsistent or entirely missing.
Too often, disabled travellers give up because they’ve been burned before. They’ve booked a property described as “wheelchair accessible,” only to discover the living space is upstairs. They’ve found a cottage that might be perfect, but the listing leaves them guessing from blurry photos with no descriptions. And for travellers with sensory or cognitive needs? Information is almost non-existent.
Simply Owners, are proud to announce that we are working with AccessibleUK to make holidays more accessible for all. We’re putting a plan into place to train property owners to describe their homes properly on our booking platform, make meaningful adjustments to their properties, and create better guides for inclusive local attractions.
Accessible travel isn’t a niche market. The so-called “Purple Pound” represents £45 billion in global travel spend. Getting accessibility right is both the moral thing to do and a smart business decision. Clear information means travellers book with confidence, owners fill their calendars, and communities thrive through inclusive tourism.
Every accurate listing removes a barrier. Every clear description opens the door for another family to travel. And platforms should not be able to turn away from this responsibility.
It’s time to make holidays feel joyful for everyone! It's time to force a change in the STR market, for the better.
We're not suggesting that you make all these changes at once, but small changes which can be made when products/items are due for renewal anyway can really help people with access needs. Why wouldn't you make the change?
Very soon we will be releasing a selection of guides, focussed on making small easy changes that will make a big difference to people with access needs.
For example, replacing your black doormat, which can look like a terrifying abyss to a person with dementia, for a grey/blue door mat. Simple on your part, makes a huge difference for them. No increased cost.
Changing your blinds to black out blinds, for children with autism to aid sleep. This is a huge help, children without sleep, do not enjoy their holiday (we all know that families of children who haven't slept then don't enjoy the break either). No increased cost.
Making your advert clearer and more descriptive for guests, so that they know exactly what's awaiting them when they arrive. No increased cost, but huge benefit for the guest.
We're hoping that our education series can improve the holiday experience for all guests.
You can find more information about AccessibleUK on their website:
https://accessibleuk.co.uk/