Hotel Owner May 2018 | Page 21

MONTH IN REVIEW HOTEL CONCEPT OF THE MONTH | CLIFFDEN HOTEL Hotel Concept of the Month: Cliffden Hotel Starboard Hotels has recently acquired the CLIFFDEN HOTEL in Teignmouth, a hotel that specialises in stays for guests with sight loss with the aim of further improving its accessibility S tarboard Hotels taken over ownership of the 47-bedroomed Cliffden Hotel from the charity Guide Dogs after it was brought to the market last year with an asking price of £1.35m. The Cliffden is the last remaining hotel in Teignmouth and nestles in seven acres of gardens and is designed to be a popular holiday and weekend break destination for thousands of visually impaired people, guide dog owners and tourists. Paul Callingham, managing director of Starboard Hotels said: “Starboard are can be wiped down when they enter the guests requiring assistance on a one-to-one deeply passionate about providing the very hotel - all ready and available upon arrival. basis and accompany all visually impaired best facilities and levels of service for all our guests.” He continued: “With our experience at the The guests themselves are then taken around the hotel to the buildings touch points so they are acclimated to the surroundings as guests on day trips throughout their stay when required. Volunteers may also be arranged to travel Windermere Manor Hotel we are confident quickly as possible. Doors and signs around with visually impaired guests to visit other of bringing our expertise and extensive the hotel are also produced in brass so they starboard/guide dogs hotel across the UK. knowledge of the hospitality industry to can be felt and all pamphlets and menus are The Cliffden, creating a very special holiday produced in braille. General manager Karen Stacey said the volunteers help to make the Cliffden a “warm and welcoming destination for all”. destination for everyone to enjoy.” VOLUNTEERS ACCOMODATION Along with its sister hotel in the Lake District REFURBISHMENT The hotel specially caters for its visually the Windermere Manor Hotel, which was Following the acquisition, the Cliffden is set impaired guests and their guide dogs, with also recently acquired by Starboard hotels, to undergo a phased refurbishment to make dog bowls, food, beds and towels - so they the Cliffden uses local volunteers to help aid the hotel even more accommodating for not just guests that are visually impaired but those of any form of disability. Consulting on the refurbishments are a user gr oup of visually impaired guests and volunteers to help advise on such things as fittings and floor coverings and even special furniture that will be introduced throughout the year. Kerian Barnes operations director for Starboard Hotels said: “The Cliffden fits with our strategy to make hotels that are open to everybody. What we have been doing is been acknowledging the dealings of people with sight loss and try to engage our team in improving their knowledge of what’s important and then take the small steps you can do in any property to improve the guest journey.” May 2018 www.hotelowner.co.uk 21