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Having been a hotelier for over forty years, Robin is well versed in how the tourism industry works. He initially trained with British Transport Hotels and has worked with a number of hotel groups including Hilton and Forte Hotels. In 2000, he co-founded Bespoke Hotels which has since grown into the UK’s largest independent hotel group and has an extensive portfolio of over 200 properties across the UK and overseas. Many of the hotels within the group have been recognised with a variety of awards including Newcomer of the Year, ‘Coolest’ (and remarkably at the same time ‘Hottest’) Hotel of the Year and the World’s Best Boutique Hotel.
As well as working to create luxury bespoke hotel stays, the Bespoke Group have also created the Blue Badge Access Awards, supported by Leonard Cheshire, the awards recognise the hard work put in by the tourism industry to design spaces with accessibility in mind. They range from most Inclusive Design to Best Hotel, Best Employer and a People’s Choice Award.
The awards were launched in 2016 alongside RIBA and the Design Council with the aim of turning hotel rooms and public areas into less functional and hospitalised spaces with a real focus on accessibility. The first ceremony took place at the House of Lords in December of 2016, the following year, Robin was honoured by being named Hotel Sector Champion for Hospitality by the Minister in the Government’s Office for Disability Issues. Robin has worked tirelessly to champion accessibility within the tourism industry and this passion is one of the reasons why he has joined forces with Tourism For All.
Image: Hotel Brooklyn, one of the accessible hotels from Bespoke Hotels.
In addition to the work he does to raise awareness for accessibility in hospitality, Robin is also a trustee for GAIN, the UK charity that offers support for Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a debilitating illness of which he has first-hand experience. In December 2004, Robin contracted Guillain-Barre and was paralysed from the neck down, resulting in almost two years of relentless physiotherapy. Over the years, he has raised money for the charity through the publication of his book, A Solitary Confinement, which details his experience with the condition and his recovery. To date, the book has sold over 45,000 copies and Robin considers his recovery to be his greatest achievement.
Image: A Solitary Confinement by Robin Sheppard.
When looking to the future of accessibility within hospitality, Robin aims to use the Blue Badge Access Awards and the work he does with Bespoke and the Government to inspire architects, designers, hotel staff and proprietors to aspire to create exceptional venues, with high standards, accessibility and style so that every guest feels like a first class citizen.
Find out more about the Blue Badge Access Awards and see a list of this year’s winners here. Details about the Bespoke Hotel group can be found here. For more information about GAIN and to make a contribution to the charity, click here.
