About IHN
With the increased demand for accessible hotels and sleeping accommodation to cater for people with a range of impairments and user needs (including families), there is a need to explore how access to, and use of, accessible bedrooms can be as inclusive as possible to all guests while also understanding client needs and requirements for a room that can be let to all.
There is also a need for guidance on how to make hotels and sleeping accommodation to be user-friendly for hoteliers, B & B owners and other guest room operators, who may be aware of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 but may not know how to go about making their accommodation inclusive, not just for the purpose of avoiding legal action but for the comfort of all of their guests.
The IHN first convened to address these issues in 2012. The group now meets every 1-3 months to share knowledge, experience and ideas and generate user-friendly guidance documents. All members give their time and expertise free of charge and include hotel operators, access consultants, occupational therapists, product designers and others involved in inclusive design or policy. IHN group is led by Rachael Marshall assisted by Shannon Keys, and is supported by CAE, ARUP and the Guildhall.
The IHN has published two guidance documents to date: Access to Hotels for People with Hearing Loss (November 2016, updated in October 2017), written by Chris Harrowell and the IHN, and The Use of Hoists in Guest Accommodation (October 2017, updated in 2018). A comprehensive resource about Sanitary Facilities in Guest Accommodation is currently in development, which will complement the guidance in BS 8300-2: 2018.
IHN publications:
- Access to Hotels for People with Hearing Loss;
- The Use of Hoists in Guest Accommodation; and
- Sanitary Facilities in Guest Accommodation (in progress).
Contact the IHN
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