As accessibility climbs the priority list for corporate event organisers, Crowne Plaza Newcastle is positioning itself as an operationally ready UK meetings hotel for deaf and hard-of-hearing delegates, with on-site infrastructure and event procedures that go beyond policy statements.
The venue has implemented a suite of deaf-inclusive measures designed to support real-world meeting delivery, including hearing loops across the property, vibrating pillows connected to fire alarm systems, and event-specific risk assessments that are regularly reviewed and updated. For organisers responsible for conferences, training programmes and association meetings, these details are becoming increasingly relevant as expectations rise around inclusive design and duty-of-care planning.
The hotel’s approach was recently put into practice during a large group booking for deaf delegates travelling from Hull Deaf Centre, a programme that required bespoke planning well beyond standard accessibility processes.
To support the group, the hotel developed a clear evacuation procedure tailored for deaf guests, assigning trained fire marshals to each floor with instructions to enter guest rooms if an alarm sounded. Delegates were briefed in advance on the process, reflecting a risk management approach focused on confidence, clarity and real-time execution.
Gail Herring of Travel Counsellors, who coordinated the booking and is a British Sign Language (BSL) user, said the advance planning was critical: “By making each deaf person aware of the plan, it gave everyone confidence. The hotel also arranged an online meeting in advance to carry out a detailed risk assessment in case the fire alarm was activated. The team ensured everything was in place to welcome the group and meet their safety needs.”
Luke Balcombe, Director of Sales & Marketing at Crowne Plaza Newcastle, said accessibility needs to be designed into event planning from the outset: “Accessibility has to be built into the planning process, not added at the end. For meetings and events, that means understanding who is in the room and adapting procedures accordingly — from communication and safety briefings to how we manage risk in real time.”
Alongside its accessibility focus, the hotel has also secured Green Key certification, an internationally recognised sustainability audit that remains relatively uncommon among UK meetings venues. For corporate organisers increasingly assessed against ESG objectives, the combination of environmental accreditation and inclusive operational delivery reflects a shift in how venues are being evaluated: not only on capacity and location, but on demonstrable performance across sustainability, safety and inclusion.
For meetings and events professionals, the case underlines a frequently overlooked aspect of venue selection: how well a hotel can adapt its procedures to support delegates with specific communication and emergency-response needs.
