CQ Hotels hundred thousand dollar Cafe refurbishment for accessibility

Monday 19 October, 2015

CQ Hotels in Wellington is continuing to carve up its reputation as one of New Zealand’s most accessible hotels by undergoing a hundred thousand dollar refurbishment of its cafe to ensure it is accessible for all.

The refurbishment has involved knocking down a step to the CQ Cafe, which prevented people with wheelchairs and other mobility impairments from accessing the cafe inside, as well as extending the cafe so it is a much bigger space for all.

CQ Hotels General Manager Olivier Lacoua commented “We are committed to providing a fully accessible hotel for all. When we noticed people with wheelchairs and frames, for example, had to enter the cafe by going all the way outside as a step prevented them from accessing the cafe internally, we knew we had to make some changes. This is the level we go to ensure that CQ Hotels Wellington continues to be the most accessible and inclusive hotel in the country.”

The hotel ‘s commitment to working and supporting diverse groups within the community continues to gain recognition nationwide as it has been selected as a finalist in the ACC Employer Award category in the 2015 Attitude Awards. The national awards celebrate the excellence and achievements of Kiwis living with disabilities.

The hotel was nominated for its commitment to equal employment opportunities. This year CQ Hotels Wellington became the first restaurant and hotel to introduce New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) on menus and has employed Deaf staff to work alongside staff at CQ Hotels who have leant NZSL by completing courses run by NZ Deaf highly skilled tutors.

The hotel has permanently employed five people with disabilities who work in various roles throughout the hotel in the restaurant in areas such as housekeeping, front office and in the restaurant and there are plans for more employment opportunities in the near future.

“We are blown away to be named as finalists in the 2015 Attitude Awards. I think it’s so important that employers start looking at other avenues when hiring staff. Often some very good, skilled employees miss out because of a small disability which doesn’t reflect in their performance. We only hope our equal employment opportunities initiative will inspire other businesses to follow in our footsteps,” said Mr Lacoua.

Olivier and the CQ Hotels team will find out if they have won at a black-tie gala on World Disability Day, December 3 at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.

ENDS

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