Queensland's Accessibility Challenge: Fewer than 2% of Hotel Rooms Meet Needs

A new report has found that fewer than 2 per cent of hotel rooms in three major Queensland cities are accessible, as the state prepares to host the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

The Games Readiness report, a collaboration between the Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) and advisory firm Urbis, investigated hotel and transport accessibility in Brisbane, Cairns, and the Gold Coast. The study audited 170 hotels, representing about 22 per cent of the market in these cities.

The findings revealed that accessible hotel rooms were scarce, with about 2 per cent of hotel rooms in Brisbane and Cairns being accessible, and about 1 per cent on the Gold Coast.

"We called each hotel individually and asked them a series of questions about what number of accessible rooms they had, what features they had, where they were located," Urbis' associate director Kali Marnane said.

Dr Marnane expressed surprise at the lack of accessible options, noting that "particularly when we think that one in five trips in Australia are taken by travellers with disability or with some kind of accessibility need," the current state of accessible hotel rooms demonstrates "a big mismatch between what we have and what we need."

Personal Experiences with Accessibility

Natascha Kamp, who has a Functional Neurological Disorder, travels everywhere with her medical assistance dog Evy. Evy helps monitor stress and fatigue to prevent Ms Kamp from having seizures.

Ms Kamp said she was not surprised by the report's findings, adding that "I personally don't stay at hotels because I don't find it accessible." For her, accessible accommodation meant an area nearby, such as a courtyard, where her assistance dog could relieve themselves.

"I don't want to have to travel outside of the hotel and potentially walk several hundred metres to do that," Ms Kamp said. "When I'm [looking] for accommodation, I'm looking for my comfort as well as my assistance dog's comfort."

Government Response and Future Plans

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie emphasized that accessibility is an important part of the state government's planning for the 2032 Games and beyond, promising "a Games for all Queenslanders."

Mr Bleijie said the government is driving development and investment opportunities across the state, streamlining approvals and removing red tape for thousands of new homes and hotel accommodation.

Queensland Hotel Association chief executive Bernie Hogan acknowledged that if the Games were to be hosted today, there would be a shortfall for hotel rooms in general. However, he noted that there will be "an enormous amount of construction" and "new product coming online" in the lead-up to the Games.

"I would be very honest about it. I'd say I don't think Queensland was aware or awake to that, maybe even as little as two [or] three years ago," he said.

Conclusion and Future Directions

Dr Marnane stated that the "polite answer" to whether Queensland is ready to host the Games is "not quite," adding that "we're ready in parts, but not as a system."

The report also recommended clearer information so travellers can plan their journeys and examined connectivity between accommodation providers and earmarked Games venues via public transport.

QDN chief executive Michelle Moss said the "building blocks" are there to improve accommodation and transport in the lead-up to the 2032 Games, and that the disability community is "ready and willing" to work with the hotel and transport sectors to make Brisbane 2032 a "world-class inclusive Games."