Creating Inclusive Getaways: The AbleStays Journey with Charles van Berckel

EP- 4 Summary In this conversation, Ruth Hunter speaks with Charles Van Berkel, founder of AbleStays, about the importance of accessible holiday accommodation. They discuss the challenges faced in creating inclusive spaces, the financial hurdles in the accessible housing market, and the need for collaboration to improve accessibility in tourism. Charles shares his journey in establishing AbleStays and the vision for expanding accessible housing solutions internationally. Takeaways Accessible holiday accommodation is crucial for inclusion. The journey to create inclusive holiday lets is challenging. Finding suitable properties for adaptation is increasingly difficult. Financial barriers hinder the development of accessible housing. Lenders often undervalue accessible properties, complicating financing. There is a significant demand for accessible holiday accommodations. Universal design can help overcome financial valuation issues. Collaboration is essential to tackle the challenges in accessible housing. The need for education around accessible housing is paramount. Creating aspirational designs can benefit everyone, not just those with disabilities. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Accessible Housing and AbleStays 14:25 The Journey of Creating Inclusive Holiday Lets 33:15 Challenges in Finding Accessible Properties 44:01 Financial Hurdles in Accessible Housing 56:03 The Future of Accessible Housing and Collaboration Contact for Charles van Berckel [email protected] https://www.ablestay.co.uk/ - please register for updates and bookings https://www.facebook.com/AbleStay https://www.instagram.com/ablestay_london/   Thanks for listening to Accessible Housing Matters UK!   If you’re inspired to learn more or want to explore working with me on creating accessible, inclusive, and beautiful properties, I’d love to hear from you. 👉 Visit www.veredusproperty.co.uk 📩 Email me directly at [email protected] 🔗 Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ruthhunter Together, we can make accessible housing the standard, not the exception. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who cares about inclusive living!