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Access Canada aims to increase the number of accessible hotels* in Canada by improving hotel facilities and service provided to seniors and people with disabilities. How? By focusing on four areas:
- Improving the interpersonal skills of hotel staff in relating to seniors and people with disabilities;
- Raising staff awareness of the range of services required by hotel patrons who are seniors or persons with disabilities;
- Enhancing staff knowledge of properties’ services and facilities, and,
- Increasing staff comfort levels in relating to seniors and persons with disabilities.
*Accessible hotels are rated from Level 1 to 4 based on the grade of accessibility offered to guests who are frail or have disabilities.
Access Canada is open to all Canadian hotels and offered in both official languages.
The program offers online training for hotel staff, as well as online assessment for hotel employees and the property. It provides resources to hoteliers to improve the accessibility of their facility and to raise staff awareness on servicing seniors and persons with disabilities.
Access Canada consists of sensitivity training for staff and property accessibility standards. Completion of both is required to be recognized by HAC as an Access Canada property.
Access Canada was designed to assist hoteliers in creating a comfortable and welcoming environment for elderly and disabled travellers. While Provincial and Municipal Building Codes were consulted in the development of the Access Canada Property Standards, the Access Canada standards are not intended to replace these Codes. Hoteliers enrolling in the Access Canada program are strongly encouraged to also consult their Provincial and Municipal Building Codes prior to implementing any accessible-feature retrofits/upgrades.
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