We have always said that embracing accessibility – making it easier for customers with access needs to use your facilities and services and to enjoy their experience with you – will help you to build your business’s revenue (along with its resilience and its reputation).
The market for accessibility is large…
According to VisitEngland, tourists and travellers with access needs – and groups with members who have access needs – spend £15.3 billion a year on trips in England.
Overall, 20% of the total annual value of domestic trips taken in England is made up of trips taken by those who have access needs, or who are part of a group where a member has access needs.
..and it’s set to keep growing!
The UK’s population is steadily ageing, which means increasing numbers of customers will need some extra support.
And it remains the government’s intention (as set out in its Tourism Sector Deal of 2019) for the UK to become the most accessible tourism destination in Europe by 2025 - and to increase the annual number of international visitors with impairments by 33%.
But what return can businesses expect on their investment in accessibility?
Although we know that embracing accessibility must make good business sense, very little hard information has been available to show what level of return businesses who embrace accessibility can achieve on their investment.
Now, though, a new case study has been published by Motionspot, the design consultants who specialise in the development of inclusive design strategies and standards, highlighting the return on investment (ROI) achieved by Hotel Brooklyn, in Manchester, on its accessible suites and communal areas during the first full trading year following their completion.
Hotel Brooklyn is part of the UK's largest independent hotel group, Bespoke Hotels. The hotel group went to Motionspot for assistance on how to make the disabled guest experience throughout as independent and inclusive as possible. Motionspot designed and supplied Hotel Brooklyn’s 18 accessible suites, along with many access features in the hotel’s communal areas – and during the first full trading year following their completion, Hotel Brooklyn reported additional revenue of £217,000 resulting directly from its accessible suites and events.
