NEW ONLINE LEARNING PROGRAM GUIDES HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY ON ENGAGING DISABILITY MARKET

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. November 17, 2016

Slatin Media Group, a training and development company devoted to improving social access for people with disabilities, has launched an online learning program to educate the hospitality industry on serving guests with disabilities. The new e-learning program, Elements of Service: Serving Guests with Disabilities, provides communication skills and tools for serving people who are blind and vision-impaired, deaf and hard of hearing, and mobility impaired, as well as important information about this community.

Elements of Service is available directly through Slatin Media Group, which can provide a branded learning management system (LMS) solution for companies that purchase the course. The course is also available through the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute's (AHLEI) online store.

“Elements of Service goes beyond the standard training in the Americans with Disabilities Act and its emphasis on physical barriers. Instead, we focus on removing the social barriers that diminish the guest experience for so many in this community,” said Slatin Media Group co-founder Peter Slatin. “This program enables management companies and hotel associates alike to truly welcome and engage the disabled community as current and potential customers.”

"The number of travelers with disabilities is growing significantly, especially among millennials,” Slatin said. “Millennials are actively traveling and enjoying life, and they are reporting in real time on social media about their experiences -- good and bad.”

The interactive e-learning course is based on Slatin's popular in-person workshops, which he has conducted at hotels across the United States such as the Virgin Hotel Chicago; the Intercontinental New York Times Square; the Seelbach Hilton in Louisville; and the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine in San Diego.

More than 50 million Americans have physical or cognitive impairments that affect travel, shopping, and professional or leisure activities. As the population ages, this number will grow, not only on its own but as a percentage of the population as a whole—with the number of disabled more than doubling by midcentury. Those enterprises whose employees are best educated will be positioned to excel in meeting the needs of this guest population.

The goal of the program is to enhance and improve the customer and workplace experience for this increasingly important and visible client base to ensure comfortable, safe and positive experiences for all participants. Training and support services boost staff awareness and confidence, improve internal and external communication, reduce liability for businesses in customer or employee interactions, increase and enhance brand and operating profile and build customer loyalty.

About Slatin Media Group

Slatin Media Group was co-founded by Peter Slatin, a hotel consultant and writer who is blind, and Jason Willensky, an instructional designer specializing in online learning, performance support, and classroom training for industry and government. Elements of Service is the company's first offering. Future releases will bring the Elements of Service message to other key partners in the service industry, including Retailers, Restaurants, Cultural and entertainment venues, HR professionals, Building Security and Concierge Services.