Travelodge
(Picture: PA)Hotel chain Travelodge has come under fire after it was claimed that disabled customers are only allowed to stay in rooms with single beds.
Content creator and illustrator Beau Brannick, from London, shared a post on Instagram on Sunday, in which they said that they were “horrified” that they were not offered an accessible double room for them and their partner, who is a wheelchair user, in Altrincham, Manchester.
Brannick wrote: “My partner was also treated horrendously from staff as they would not speak to them directly and would only speak to me as though my partner was incapable of speaking for themselves.
“I want Travelodge to commit to having accessible rooms available with double beds and undertake accessibility and disability awareness training for staff.”
The artist has since launched a Change.org petition which currently stands at almost 2,500 signatures at the time of writing.
“After explaining that we were partners who booked a double room, [staff] replied that Travelodge don’t offer this as to quote, ‘disabled people mainly travel with their carers so need single beds’.
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“We were also stumped how staff could possibly know who a disabled person was traveling with. It’s fairly obvious that the staff are making assumptions that if you’re disabled and traveling, it must be with a carer – that disabled people couldn’t possibly be in relationships and want to share a bed with them,” Brannick added.
Their campaign has since been shared widely on Instagram, with the post receiving more than 4,500 likes.
Expressing their support for Brannick’s petition, users have commented that it should be about “choice” for disabled guests.
“I think the important thing here is choice and adaptability. I personally would prefer a twin room because I sleep separately to my husband at home and struggle to share a bed in a hotel. But it shouldn’t be the only option available, and rooms should be flexible and adaptable,” wrote one.
Another account responded: “I hadn’t thought about this but yeah we had twin beds pushed together which is NOT a double bed. It was better for us personally for lifting purposes but that’s not the point! There should be a choice.”
Speaking to indy100, Brannick said them and their partner Alice – a queer and disabled textile artist and illustrator – had to complain a second time before they were given an accessible set-up.
“[We] demanded to have access to two rooms next to each other. One accessible room for the bathroom and another non-accessible for the bed. They allowed this to happen but obviously this made the whole time we were there uncomfortable and difficult.
“My partner couldn’t move about freely in their wheelchair in the non-accessible room and every time they needed the toilet, I would have to assist them to the other room, as the doors are very heavy fire doors.
“The whole of the floor (in rooms and landing) is carpet which makes moving in a chair difficult,” they said over Instagram.
Brannick continued to say that they received a phone call from Travelodge on Tuesday evening to say that they have launched an investigation in the hotel Beau and Alice stayed at and will “keep me updated”.
Indy100 has reached out to Travelodge for comment.
