Overview

Staff gave misleading information, and were unhelpful and unprofessional. No understanding or culture of accessibility beyond the most basic. Please don't consider using for conferences or functions if you have wheelchair users.

Transport & Parking

Parking next to the hotel.

Access

I was assured by the event organiser that the function room was accessible to a wheelchair user, although they would have to use the service lift (not ideal, but it was important we attend). We had numerous complications throughout the day: - Our wheelchair user was left out in the cold for 10 minutes as the staff couldn't locate the ramp (they had had over two notice that there would be a wheelchair user attending). - The ramp set up between the main conference and the break out space was steep, difficult to use and dangerous. We nearly had a collision descending the ramp, and using the ramp throughout the day impacted on the pain levels of our team member.

Toilets

Only accessible on some floors. The ramps set up between mezzanine levels were steep, difficult to use and dangerous.

Staff

The staff were not helpful, compassionate or professional (they only found the outside ramp after a member of our team went up to the desk and said "I have some great photos of a wheelchair user note be able to get into your building and I am thinking of putting them on FB". It shouldn't have come to this.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

An appeal to venues: please don't say you are wheelchair accessible if you're not. This doesn't give people the correct information to gauge whether a visit to your venue will have a negative impact on their health, and it is not a position anyone should be put in.

Photos