Enhancing accessibility & style in holiday parks
Kerry Williams: "Accommodations with accessible swimming pools receive 15 times more bookings"
Holiday parks are continuously enhancing their offerings, providing exceptional, stylish, and affordable accommodation while also improving accessibility.
Notable achievements in this field include the addition of sensory rooms, accessible pools, and stylish fittings. The Accessible Group proudly supports these developments and has recently announced our partnership with Caravan Industry Association of Australia.
Read Kerry’s column and more in the new summer print edition of AccomNews HERE
Accessible pools are increasingly appearing in holiday parks, allowing the entire family to enjoy the water together, rather than a member with a disability having to sit on the sidelines.
In fact, accommodations with accessible swimming pools receive 15 times more bookings on our website than those without. Locations like Lake Tinaroo in Northern Queensland and Belmont Lakeside Holiday Park in Lake Macquarie, with their accessible swimming pools, are reaping the rewards with increased occupancy.
There is a noticeable trend in holiday parks moving towards chic and stylish designs, departing from the traditional sterile look of accessible bathrooms.
A fantastic example is Big4 Castlemaine Gardens, with one of the most stylish bathrooms I’ve encountered. By simply using stylish tiling and matching black grab rails, the space becomes inviting to all guests, with or without a disability. Nowadays, there is no difference in pricing when choosing brushed gold, copper, or black rails to match the tapware.
BIG4 Renmark has taken accessibility to the next level by providing a sensory room for kids with autism sensory needs. Tactile and calming toys in a quiet space offer children, as well as tired parents, a place to relax during their holiday.
Meanwhile, BIG4 Adventure Whitsunday Resort provides a warm welcome for children with sensory triggers through a special Welcome Book and a dedicated sensory room.
As Tanya Cran from the resort says, “We believe every family deserves a great holiday and are determined to provide our guests with a fully facilitated sensory room. The room has all the features you would expect to find in an autism-specific educational setting, and we also provide guests who plan to use the room with a special Welcome Book, allowing the family to explain what their child can expect on their holiday.
Holiday parks that prioritise accessibility are gaining popularity because they offer self-contained accommodation in regional areas, which is a preferred choice for people with disabilities.
Accessible Accommodation polled many of its 30,000 followers and subscribers and discovered that 80 percent of travellers with disabilities prefer self-contained accommodation.
A main reason is the value for money and the ability to make large group bookings that holiday parks offer. Group bookings often prioritise finding accessible accommodation for one or more group members with disabilities, making the location more appealing to the entire group.
Road trips are the preferred mode of transport for people with disabilities due to the challenges of flying. Road trips also allow them to bring their equipment and explore all that Australia has to offer.
With many holiday parks located in regional towns, it makes them an ideal self-contained accommodation choice for travellers with disabilities.
Kerry Williams is an entrepreneur and accessibility advocate, revolutionising how individuals with disabilities enjoy travelling through her Accessible Accommodation and Accessible Experiences websites. Reinforcing her passionate belief that accessible design can be functional and beautiful at the same time, her consultancy assists accommodation providers to maximise occupancy rates. A multi-award winner, she continues to drive innovation for seamless accessible travel.
