Airbnb’s efforts have been robust. Over the past year, a dedicated cross-functional team worked diligently to increase the number of listings with accessibility features in the Paris region. The results are impressive: more than 1,000 listings now offer step-free access to the entrance, as well as at least one bedroom and one bathroom. About 300 of those listings are now in the Adapted Category, which means they also have at least one accessibility feature in the bathroom such as a shower bench or grab bar.
Suzanne’s personal experiences as a wheelchair user have been instrumental in shaping Airbnb’s approach. “I’ve had numerous frustrating experiences staying in hotels, even when I’ve booked an accessible room in advance,” she shares. “Working on this project has been incredibly rewarding. Each time I’ve visited Paris since we started this initiative, I’ve stayed in an Airbnb with all the accessibility information I needed in advance.”
Ensuring comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable solutions required extensive collaboration across various sectors. “Working with local councils, government agencies, and the IPC was crucial,” Suzanne notes. “Paris 2024 acted as a catalyst, prioritising inclusivity and accessibility. The collaboration was extensive but incredibly rewarding.”
Sofyane Mehiaoui, a wheelchair basketball playerMarine Burucoa
To support hosts in making their properties more accessible, Airbnb launched several initiatives. They partnered with France’s leading disability organisation, APF France Handicap, and two para-athletes, Axel Alletru and Sofyane Mehiaoui. As first-time hosts themselves, they opened their homes to guests with accessibility needs on Airbnb for free during the Olympics and Paralympics, helping to promote hosting and offer incredible experiences for guests.
“We also provided free end-to-end support to hosts,” Suzanne elaborates. “This included offering free 3D scans of their listings by Matterport to identify and confirm all existing accessibility features.” These scans also produced 2D-floor plans, which hosts added to their listing pages, providing guests with a better understanding of the home’s layout.
Source link
