Pablo Ramon, founder of mobility NGO Native.

An international network of accessible hotels could soon include a few Maltese locations, if the right access measures are put in place.

“It’s not difficult to make a hotel accessible and it doesn’t need to be expensive either.

“A few simple alterations would make some Maltese hotels very attractive to impaired holidaymakers,” said Pablo Ramon, founder of mobility NGO Native.

Set up in 2010, Native is fast becoming the world’s largest network of accessible holiday destinations, offering travellers detailed information on wheelchair access, Braille and audio-visual aids.

With more than 40 million disabled EU citizens to attract, Mr Ramon believes that making hotels accessible to disabled clients could open up a relatively unexplored market.

“The main message we are trying to get across to hoteliers is don’t limit your market. The costs of improving accessibility are much lower than the costs of not doing so.”

Our message to hoteliers is: don’t limit your market

A former travel journalist and fierce hotel critic, Mr Ramon spent the past days inspecting several local hotels, which he felt could fit in with the network’s burgeoning list of “unique boutiques”.

“Many hotels offer what they advertise as accessible accommodation but what might appear insignificant could turn a weekend break or a summer holiday into a complete nightmare,” Mr Ramon said, highlighting cabinets beneath accessible bathroom sinks and mirrors hung up too high as among the “thoughtless annoyances” that leave impaired holidaymakers irate.

Mr Ramon declined to reveal which local hotels were being considered but did indicate that the network included some unorthodox accommodation and his Maltese choices would reflect that.

“One of the most amazing hotels I ever visited was an ancient 15th century Moroccan riad. The magnificent building overlooked the Marrakesh souk and offered a genuine Moroccan experience.

“You’d think it would be completely inaccessible given how old the place was but it couldn’t be further from the truth.”

The Moroccan riad has brail on every one of its doors, a sound-wave alarm system for deaf guests and was so accessible that the network decided to use the hotel as the standard against which other establishments are rated

“You don’t need to be blind or deaf to enjoy the Riad De La Belle Époque.

“Brad Pitt and his family love it there so does Kate Blanchet. It offers a genuine and accessible experience that we feel all hotels should offer. After all, everyone loves a holiday,” Mr Ramon said.