Disability, hospitality and the new sharing economy

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to explore the place of disabled guests in the new world of hotel and holiday accommodation shaped by the sharing economy. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses Levitas’s (2013) Utopia as Method as a methodological tool to develop the hypothetical future scenarios, which are used to explore the place of disabled guests in peer-to-peer holiday accommodation. Findings Analysis of the hypothetical scenarios suggests that without state intervention, the place of disabled guests in both traditional hotels and peer-to-peer holiday accommodation is far from secure. Research limitations/implications This is a new area and the authors’ discussion is therefore tentative in its intent. Practical implications Planners and policymakers should consult with, and take account of, the needs of disabled people and other socially excluded groups when regulating shared economy enterprises. It may be helpful to put in place broader legislation for social inclusion rather than regulate peer-to-peer platforms. Any recourse to markets as a means of resolving access issues needs also to acknowledge the limited power of socially excluded groups within both traditional and sharing economy markets. Social implications The hypothetical scenarios discussed within this paper offer planners, policymakers and tourism stakeholders opportunities to think through the access and inclusion needs of disabled guests in the shared economy sector. Originality/value The paper extends discussion of hospitality and disability access to include shared economy approaches and the place of disabled guests in the new world of holiday accommodation shaped by the sharing economy.

Accessibility in Inclusive Tourism? Hotels Distributed through Online Channels

“…On the other hand, in cases where the facilities are adapted, a problem remains in the conception of the people, both by the workers and by the customers. People with disabilities are often perceived as a "burden" [24] and disfavoured or overlooked in terms of accommodation and service.…”

“…People with disabilities have the same wishes as those who have the ability to travel, but it is certain that they are a more demanding group [23]. If a person with disabilities is in an accommodation and feels at home there, they will develop a physical bond to the place and a sense of identity of a place and, therefore, will be more predisposed to make more trips to that location [24].…”

“…Moreover, the most worrying issue is that accommodation providers perceive tourists with a disability as a "problem". Also, the accessible rooms are not very attractive for tourists without a disability [24]. There is extensive academic literature about disability and accessibility in tourism, but a lack of data in most countries in the world [25].…”

Why Existing Regulatory Frameworks Fail in the Short-term Rental Market: Exploring the Role of Regulatory Fractures

“…The characteristics and flexibility described above also make STRs more appealing-and perhaps better options-for longer-term visitors, such as academics on research stays or families who require accommodation during an out-of-town medical procedure. Some suggest that STRs may also be better suited to meeting the accessibility needs of persons living with a disability than traditional forms of accommodation (Boxall, Nyanjom, and Slaven 2018). Finally, others have argued that STRs could form part of a solution to addressing problems of ongoing undersupply of shelter space and safe housing for survivors of domestic violence (Crisan 2020).…”

Systematic framework to assess social impacts of sharing platforms: Synthesising literature and stakeholder perspectives to arrive at a framework and practice-oriented tool

“…Studies have examined the role of platforms and their practices to foster trust online [46], and others have focused on the dichotomy between social inclusion and exclusion [47][48][49].…”