FRANCE | More than 380 Accor brand hotels have received or are in the process of receiving “Tourisme & Handicap” certification.
The French government’s “Tourisme & Handicap” certification, which Atout France has operationally managed since May 1, 2024, recognises the commitment of tourism establishments to ensuring and improving the accessibility of tourist destinations and providing optimum autonomy, for all. This initiative and the certification criteria meet all four types of disability - auditory, cognitive, physical and visual.
“Over the past few months, the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games have been a catalyst to improve the way in which we cater for disabled travellers. Employees and hotels have been working hard to make Paris 2024 a wonderful experience for everyone. This achievement will be one of the legacies of this historic event for Accor, and we are determined, once the Games are over, to continue rolling out the best innovations worldwide to welcome every single guest”, explained Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor.
As part of the Paris 2024 Games, over half of the Group's hotels in host locations have begun a certification process. In early July 2024, more than 380 Accor brand hotels had already received (80 hotels), or were about to receive, certification, demonstrating the dedication of hotel teams, owners and partners to improving accessibility. Reflecting this commitment, on June 5, 2024, the Group received Atout France’s Gold Award for accessible tourism.
Accor brand “Tourisme & Handicap” certified hotels are registered on the “Accès Libre” online platform set up by the French government, which aims to list the accessibility of all venues open to the public in France and share this information as widely as possible. The Group intends to extend this initiative to all its hotels in France and carry this across to other regions of the world in order to share best practices internationally.
Launched by Accor in 2017, the “Smart Room” is an original room concept that elevates accessibility standards in the hotel industry and is rolled out as part of new openings and hotel refurbishments. Combining style and functionality, the Smart Room exceeds accessibility standards and offers an experience that ends the demarcation between PRM (Persons with Reduced Mobility) rooms and other room types. “Smart rooms” include an adaptable wardrobe (low or high position), an adjustable bed, curtains and washbasins, as well as a sliding door to the bathroom. Every detail has been designed to meet PRM standards, without any compromise to aesthetics or the sensory experience.
All Group hotels have access to a catalogue of features to improve the accessibility of their guestrooms. An example is the Pullman Paris Bercy hotel, which has just completed the refurbishment of its guestrooms – they now include open cupboards with a retractable wardrobe, and automatic door opening via a push button for guests in wheelchairs.
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