Amilla Maldives Receives Inclucare Verification As World’s First Disabled Accessible Travel Resort
Thursday 22nd of December 2022
Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences has shined as the world’s first Inclucare-verified resort for disabled-accessible travel. To achieve this honoured privilege, Amilla Maldives has modified its facilities and trained its dedicated staff to cater to a wide range of physical and sensory disabilities at the resort, providing a seamless holiday experience for guests with disabilities.
Inclucare is a UK-based organization that offers inclusive and accessible travel training, assessment and accreditation for partners of the global tourism and hospitality industry. With one in every five people experiencing a significant mental or physical disability the worldwide spending on the disabled market has reached an astonishing USD 10 trillion per year according to the organization.
The accreditation was initially announced on November 28th during a special event held at London’s Great Scotland Yard Hotel, the first Inclucare-certified hotel. A designated panel discussion formed part of the event, chaired by Condé Nast Traveller’s sustainability editor, Juliet Kinsman. She was joined by the founder of Inclucare, Richard Thompson, founder of Motionspot, Ed Warner and representatives from Amilla Maldives Resort and Residences.
At the panel, the speakers spotlighted the role of industry professionals in bringing accessibility and inclusion to the top of the agenda in the travel and media industries. They also looked into how disabled people stay longer, spend more money and often travel with support and despite this, a vast majority of hotels are still not compliant with pertaining legislation on accessibility and inclusion. Marking the significance of Amila Maldives’ accreditation, the panel members stated that it is proof that such changes can be implemented anywhere from secluded coral islands in Maldives to historical buildings in old cities.
“In a world awash with certifications, and hundreds in the travel sector alone, IncluCare stands for a really significant seal of approval — verified accessibility and inclusivity. We still have a long way to go when it comes to the hotel industry offering experiences that everyone can book, whatever their abilities, and this sets an important benchmark in terms of sustainability and responsibility which I hope will inspire more hotels to do the right thing when it comes to considering all the needs of every potential guest.” Stated Juliet Kinsman, Sustainability Editor of Condé Nast Traveller.
