A meetings hotel in Newcastle has highlighted steps it has taken
to ensure its services are inclusive to delegates and guests who are deaf or
hard-of-hearing after the industry was criticised for its widespread failure to
consider their needs.
Crowne Plaza Newcastle, which boasts nine meeting spaces with
the ability to accommodate conferences for up to 450 people, has built an infrastructure
to support delegates who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, including the installation
of hearing loops and the creation of a tailored risk assessment for deaf delegates
and guests.
The 251-bedroom hotel also has vibrating pillows linked to
fire alarm systems and has worked on communication with staff and clients to
better meet the needs of guests with hearing-loss.
In the latest episode of The Meeting Room, M&IT editor
Paul Harvey, who has hearing loss himself, highlights a lack of awareness of
the needs of meetings professionals who are deaf, or hard-of-hearing.
Even though one in three adults in the UK have hearing loss,
tinnitus or are deaf, the events industry historically has done little to cater
to their needs.
“There are some people who are really good but based on my
experience [the industry] isn’t aware of this issue and it hasn’t wanted to
address it,” Harvey says in the interview.
Crowne Plaza Newcastle said it had tested its inclusive approach
at a recent booking for deaf delegates attending from Hull Deaf Centre.
The hotel implemented a clear evacuation plan, assigning
fire marshals to each floor who were briefed to enter guest rooms if an alarm
sounded, and every deaf delegate was informed of the procedure in advance.
Gail Herring of Travel Counsellors, who organised the group
and is a British Sign Language (BSL) user, said the hotel had arranged a meeting in advance for a detailed risk assessment, while the team had ensured a plan was in place to welcome the group and meet safety needs.
“By making each deaf person
aware of the plan, it gave everyone confidence," she said.
Luke Balcombe, director of sales & marketing at Crowne
Plaza Newcastle, said: “Accessibility
has to be built into the planning process, not added at the end. For meetings
and events, that means understanding who is in the room and adapting procedures
accordingly – from communication and safety briefings to how we manage risk in
real time.”
