In 2011, the New Zealand National Foundation for the Deaf (NFD) commissioned NZTRI to conduct research into the tourism, travel, and hospitality experiences and needs of people with hearing impairments.

Abstract:The British Columbia tourism industry—post Olympics—is in a state of transition, and this presents an opportunity to compare practices with similar overseas destinations. There are enough similarities with the New Zealand tourism industry (population base, comparable range of tourism experiences, Pacific Rim location etc.) that we can benefit by exploring, and learning from each other, particularly in the field of tourism education and research. Terry Hood will present a brief and informal overview of the tourism infrastructure in “Super, Natural British Columbia”, and highlight current issues that are high on the radar for tourism professionals in the province.

Abstract: Previous research has shown that managers in the hotel industry perceive persons with disabilities as lacking the required embodied capacities and attributes, unable to meet industry-specific work requirements and too costly to employ. I explore the validity of these negative judgements through a case study of integrative hotels employing on average more than 60 percent of persons with disabilities. The empirical findings show that the negative judgements held by managers in non-integrative hotels regarding persons with disabilities were not supported in the case of the integrated hotels. Many disabilities had no impact on the employees’ mobility or shift work.

NZTRI Associate Director Mark Orams wrote a column in the Sunday Star Times on 4 Dec 2011. Please read it below. 

Listen below to a Radio New Zealand report including an interview of NZTRI Director Simon Milne: