Spain Launches Hotel Accessibility Guide to Help Travellers with Disabilities Make Informed Booking Decisions

Detailed doorway and bathroom measurements, supported by up-to-date photographs, aim to replace vague accessibility claims and empower travellers to choose accommodation independently and confidently.

The Spanish Tourism Board launched a new guidance document at World Travel Market London on 4 November 2026, encouraging hotels to provide accurate and transparent information about accessibility under its Spain for All initiative.

The guide, titled Supporting Choice, aims to help travellers with disabilities select accommodation that meets their individual needs, addressing a common challenge in travel planning: hotels describing themselves as “accessible” without providing sufficient practical details.

The guide encourages hotels to publish precise measurements of doorways and corridors, details of guestroom and bathroom facilities, and information about access to restaurants, swimming pools and shared spaces.

It also recommends supporting these descriptions with recent photographs that accurately reflect the property's facilities.

The guidance extends beyond wheelchair users to address the needs of travellers with visual and hearing impairments, as well as those with different sensory and neurodivergent requirements.

It also covers emergency procedures, the accessibility of hotel websites and booking systems, and the importance of regularly updating information, particularly following renovations or changes to facilities.

The document provides voluntary best-practice guidance rather than introducing new legally binding requirements for Spanish hotels.

The guide was developed in collaboration with the advisory board of the Spain for All initiative, bringing together accessible tourism specialists, industry representatives and people with disabilities.

According to data presented in connection with the initiative, 42% of people with accessibility requirements covered by the research avoided travelling abroad during 2024 and 2025, highlighting the importance of addressing barriers that limit travel choices.

Miguel Sanz, Director General of the Spanish Tourism Board, emphasised that clear and reliable information enables travellers to make decisions with greater independence, confidence and dignity.

The launch coincided with Spain becoming the first official Accessibility Partner of World Travel Market London.

Spain's initiative highlights that accessible tourism begins long before guests arrive at their hotels. It starts when travellers search for accommodation and assess whether a property meets their needs.

A hotel may offer suitable facilities yet still lose potential guests if it fails to provide the information needed to evaluate them before booking.

For hotels across the Arab world, the guide offers a practical model for improving the booking experience through detailed measurements, accurate photographs and clear descriptions of available facilities rather than relying on general marketing claims.

The initiative's most immediate value lies in empowering travellers to make informed choices and reducing unexpected difficulties upon arrival.

Its commercial impact, however, will need to be assessed through booking patterns, guest satisfaction and measurable operational results.