Scandic Sergel Plaza wins St Julian Prize 2006
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Scandic Sergel Plaza wins St Julian Prize 2006
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Category: Europe
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2006-03-31
Yesterday evening, the City of Stockholm awarded the first of its prestigious S:t Julian prizes for good accessibility. In a ceremony at Stockholm City Hall, Scandic Sergel Plaza won the award in the "Hotel/Conference" category.
Beating off stiff competition, yesterday evening Scandic Sergel Plaza in Stockholm received the St Julian Prize 2006 for its work to make the hotel a better place for disabled people. The jury explained its choice as follows: "Scandic Sergel Plaza has a high standard of accessibility throughout for people with various types of disability, including everything from spacious hotel rooms, vibrating alarm clocks and gluten-free food to a hearing loop in reception. The jury would particularly like to highlight the Scandic chain's 93-point programme for accessibility which they have developed in consultation with disability organisations and hotel guests. This programme, which is an ongoing process of improvements, comprises checklists and comprehensive training for all staff".
Scandic Sergel Plaza was one of three nominees in the category for best accessibility at a hotel/conference centre. In making its decision, the jury considered the attitude of team members to be one of the key factors.
"I believe that we won this award thanks to committed team members who, since the start of our focus on accessibility, have really put their heart and soul into improving the hotel," explains Torsten Andersson, Scandic Sergel Plaza's General Manager. "In addition to everyone going through the training, many of us carried out our work from a wheelchair in order to see our department from a new point of view," he continues.
The hotel's work has been helped by "Scandic's accessibility standard", drawn up by Magnus Berglund, Scandic's Disability Co-ordinator, in consultation with various Swedish disability organisations and hotel guests. The aim has been to raise quality for all hotel guests, not only disabled guests. The standard applies to all Swedish hotels.
About the St Julian prize
Will be awarded every year from 2006 to 2010
Is divided into four categories: store/bank, restaurant/bar/café, cinema/theatre/cultural centre and hotel/conference
Assessment is based on accessibility for all, with or without a disability
Part of the City of Stockholm's Accessibility Project aimed at becoming the world's most accessible capital city by 2010
Does not give out any prize money, simply recognition for good work
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