Make work of social inclusion

Chill Foundation is a nationwide foundation that aims to combine going out, hotel business and social inclusion. "Social inclusion means that everyone, with or without disabilities, can enjoy the social aspect. Our foundation focuses specifically on the invisible disability irritability. From having breakfast in silence and Easydining to the Chillcafé, all kinds of concepts are possible to make going out accessible to everyone," said chairman Hedie Niemeijer.

Chill Foundation is committed to an inclusive society where people with irritability can enjoy going out and visiting hotels on par with everyone else. Stimulus sensitivity is a condition where the brain has difficulty processing information coming in through the senses or emotions. The foundation has developed several concepts to make going out and visiting hotels low in stimulus and accessible for this target group, says Niemeijer.

"For instance, there is the Chill Café, where people can talk and listen to soft music in a quiet atmosphere. For example, organise this on a weekday evening, like Wednesdays, for the whole neighbourhood. This way, everyone can use the hotel bar and the other person's world can literally be enlarged. It doesn't require much adjustment of a hotel bar, as it is often already quieter there than in a regular café."

There are also lounge seats, where people can retreat for a while after a day of shopping. "People can then unwind in between. As a hotel, you can respond to this by making the beautiful lounge available to provide a quiet place for visitors."

Stimulus-sensitive people like to sit with their backs to the open kitchen, Niemeijer knows, so as not to have to see and hear everything or avoid having to engage in conversation about an order. "It works well to tune in to what the guest needs then. For example, does he or she want to indicate when the order can be taken or does the restaurant take the initiative? And what about the candles on the table? Are those pleasant or would you prefer them off?"

By showing understanding and making arrangements together, you can do a lot of social inclusion and social commitment as a hotel. "It would be nice if a hotel offered a quiet room on its own initiative, during a congress for example. That way it becomes a place accessible to everyone," Niemeijer explains.

Hotels can also promote social inclusion by creating silence rooms. "Hotels often have beautiful rooms that are not always fully booked. Whether people book a room with you before a meeting or drive by after a conference, as a hotel you can relatively easily offer a silence room with a key. A visitor can then ask for one and seek silence in a safe environment."

"Physical safety is an important aspect of the hotel industry, and fortunately almost all Dutch hotels comply with it. But there is also another dimension of hospitality: social inclusion. In the Netherlands, there are about 3 million people who do not always feel at home in a standard hotel environment. Stichting Chill wants to help hotels take into account different disabilities, and not just one target group. "This is not only good for society, but also for the hotel itself," says Niemeijer. "People appreciate it when they can stay in a hotel where they can have breakfast or socialise at their leisure, and where they notice that the hotel is socially responsible."

From her own experience, after a serious accident, Niemeijer knows how difficult it is to have a good social life. She felt the need for a larger social circle than her own circle of family and peers. What was missing was a low-pressure environment where everyone was welcome. That is why she started the Chill Foundation, an organisation dedicated to inclusive nightlife with information and tips. She works with hotels to show how they can better welcome this large target group of people with irritability.