Excellence Ireland Quality Association

New Accessibility Award for Tourism and Hospitality Sectors

23 June 2009: Rehab and Excellence Ireland Quality Association, in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland, have today launched a new accessibility award for the hospitality and tourism industry which aims to ensure an accessible environment for customers and staff with disabilities. The new ABLE Business Excellence Award will be open to hotels, restaurants, self-catering accommodation, bed and breakfasts and wider tourism attractions.

Fáilte Ireland commented: "The ABLE Award replaces the Validated Accessible Scheme which has been in operation since 2002 and provides the tourist industry with a framework in which to grow market share, whilst adhering to the highest recognised standards available to people with disabilities. These new awards provide for a more comprehensive, modern and transparent assessment of accessibility standards that include accessibility, customer service and the employment of people with disabilities." Improving accessibility is important for customers and staff with disabilities in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Michael Horgan, Rehab's Director of Enterprises, comments: "Rehab launched the national ABLE Awards in June of last year as the new best practice standard and quality mark for accessibility. This partnership with Fáilte Ireland provides participants of the ABLE Award with a key differentiator in attracting business from people with disabilities and in the recruitment of people with disabilities. Many hospitality businesses are already recognising the importance of accessibility and will value what the ABLE Award will bring to their business."

Irene Collins, Managing Director of EIQA, adds: "At EIQA, we support companies in achieving and maintaining the highest standard of quality practices available in Ireland. We will be responsible for assessing, monitoring and awarding these standards in the tourism and retail sectors. At a time of unprecedented economic challenge, it is essential to ensure that our hospitality industry is best placed to maximise its business efforts.

"Ultimately, the ABLE Award strengthens the tourist industry's access to a larger customer base, through the provision of excellent accessibility and customer service to people with disabilities, by ensuring that the built environment meets the needs of people with disabilities and indeed those who acquire a disability whilst in employment."

For more information on the ABLE Award, email ableawards@rehab.ie or see www.able.ie.
Contact: Petrina Duggan, EIQA, Tel: 01 6604100, email: pduggan@eiqa.com, web: www.able.ie
Contact: Dara Duffy, Rehab. Tel: 01 2057268, email: dara.duffy@rehab.ie, web: www.able.ie