Universal Design and the International Travel & Hospitality IndustryScott Rains, Faculty Fellow, Graduate Theological Union, Director, Computer-Assisted Education, Eden Housing Resident Services, Inc., USA RationaleThe confluence of several factors makes this the ideal time for an international body to strategically review the travel and hospitality industry from the perspective of seniors, persons with disabilities and others who benefit from a universal design approach to social participation. These factors include the resurgence of international travel post September 11, economic recovery, a new paradigm for disability studies and policy, recognition by the UN of the importance of travel as a global force for development (i.e. by enfranchisement of the World Tourism Organization), and the availability of the first statistical study of the travel behavior of persons with disabilities. These developments combine to create an industry-wide opportunity for those with expertise in universal design to impact policy, product development, and marketing in the travel and hospitality industry. Brazil provides an ideal location for such a review with its scholarly production in the field, public sector resources such as EMBRATUR, and private sector resources such as tourism infrastructure and Embraer that reaches globally through its manufacture of commercial aircraft. In addition, the beauty, diversity, and desirability of Brazil as a travel destination increases the likelihood that travel professionals from around the world will choose to participate in this conference. IntroductionIn 1998 a seminal study took place on the market behavior of seniors and people with disabilities as travelers. This Australian study, "Anxiety to Access" (http://tinyurl.com/27ap6), established the groundwork for adoption of a universal design approach within the travel and hospitality industry. It did so by revealing and quantifying needs and expectations of this demographic in a way that was accessible to business professionals. The study established a model for future measurements as well as enabled industry response. Among the first sectors of the industry to respond to this demographic were resorts and cruise lines. The cruise sector continues to grow with a predicted 11.5 percent increase from 2003 in overall passengers, including 5.3 million first-time cruisers. Results of a further study, conducted last fall by Harris Interactive, were released at the World Congress of the Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH). (http://tinyurl.com/35bcd) According to this first statistical study of the travel behavior of the United State's 31.3 million adults with physical disabilities, US travelers with disabilities spend $13.5 billion annually. This research resulted in strategic decisions by the US travel and hospitality industry. For example, Avis Rent A Car System - US has launched a program to capture market dominance in the adaptive rental car market. (http://www.prnewswire.com/broadcast/11720/11720_consumer.html) We believe that such successes can be reproduced internationally. This presentation proposes to address universal design through the lens of travel. The purpose of the presentation is to facilitate face-to-face interaction between travel & hospitality professionals, disability scholars and attendees with a range of disabilities. Both policy & concrete design issues will be addressed. Participants include a US author & educator with the California-based affordable housing developer, Eden Housing, Inc., who himself has 32 year's experience with a disability, the Executive Director of SATH, the Executive Director of the Universal Design Center at North Carolina State University, the Director of IDEA Center at SUNY-Buffalo, and the Director of Federal University of Rio de Janeiro's Research Center on Accessibility and Universal Design. A team of Brazilian colleagues is in formation and expected to include representatives of the Rio-based conference's logistics contractors Grahn/Compass Travel, a representative of the Independent Living Center of Rio de Janeiro - CVI-Rio, and Brazilian scholars of tourism. Several researchers, businesspeople and industry professionals in various countries are contributing to the preparatory phase and may also attend. We expect this presentation to attract a new cohort of attendee to the Designing for the 21st Century. Interest in this proposal is growing within the community of Brazilian tourism and development scholars. It is already high among the English-speaking professionals in the travel industry who have learned of it. Topic & PerspectiveThe topic is universal design applied to the phenomenon of leisure and business travel. Emphasis will be on inter-, as distinguished from intra-metropolitan, travel. Persons with disabilities will be approached as market segments either within or distinct from more commonly studied segments as is appropriate to the discussion. An attempt will be made to project, from demographic trends, certain implications for research and for practical projects in the travel and hospitality sector that require universal design principles. It is hoped that significant levels of conference attendance by Brazilian students of tourism (i.e. UniverCidade - Rio), professional travel vendors, and other industry representatives can be achieved in order to permeate the day with the perspective of stakeholders who have an immediate economic interest in successful implementation of universal design as well as a wealth of experiential knowledge concerning the travel behaviors of current travelers with disabilities. Learning Objectives
Engaging the AudienceThe proposal engages attendees through a praxis model in which input, action, and corporate reflection are equally valued components of the dialogic process. The problem-posing/solution analysis element can be effective in forging coherence in cross-discipline, cross-cultural groups such as the one we foresee attracting. This model has also been used successfully to achieve a higher degree of post-conference collaboration than a workshop-only model does. Therefore, it is expected that attendees at this full-day, pre-conference presentation will add significant value through their knowledgeable interactions at other presentations during the conference whether these deal directly with travel or indirectly with the universal design issues necessary for inclusive travel. A combination of methods to be used in this presentation facilitate engagement. These include oral presentations; discussions of case studies (currently under development for the presentation); completion of a travel journal written by each participant covering preparation during the weeks prior to travel and up to the opening of the presentation's first session; participation in a Blog/BBS allowing documentation and remote participation throughout the entire Rio conference; readings; site inspections; and discussions of policy & design solutions. Professional networking and the establishment of ongoing projects will be encouraged with various exercises throughout the day. A Birds-of-a-feather (BOF) or affinity group option throughout the full conference among those with an interest in this topic has been suggested to allow informal discussions and synthesis. ScheduleMorning sessions will present the topics listed above. Afternoon sessions will consist of site visits, content synthesis and action planning. MorningThe Vision
The Tools
The Application
AfternoonThe ResultsFinalization of this segment begins in earnest following proposal approval. It will utilize the hands-on opportunities available at the Rio de Janeiro venue and include familiarization with the 1994 Rio City Project. Collaborations under consideration include working with the Tourism Department at UniverCidade- Rio, the Research Center on Accessibility and Universal Design at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and Revista Turismo. Facilitation of international networking and collaboration between participants on problem-solving, business ventures, studies, and publications is woven through this presentation. A synthesis session will bring the day to closure. Measures of SuccessMeasures of success include entries posted to the presentation's Blog reflecting increasing grasp of the topics to be addressed (access to post entries will be open to local & international participants throughout the conference); papers published on the topic of travel, disability and universal design by participants (local & virtual) following the conference; replication of the 2002 Open Doors' Study by participants; creation of ongoing international collaborations & networks pursuing presentation topics; and concrete actions taken by tourism and hospitality vendors in Rio as a result of suggestions made. |