Review of Related Literature and Studies
PWD-Friendly Hotels in the Third District of Pangasinan
I. Review of Related Literature
Accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities (PWDs) are crucial in the
hospitality sector. Despite legislative mandates, such as the Accessibility Law and the
Magna Carta for Disabled Persons in the Philippines, compliance remains inconsistent,
especially in provincial areas.
A 2017 study in the International Journal of Hospitality Management found that the
accessibility of public areas, guest rooms, and recreation spaces significantly affects hotel
satisfaction among people with physical disabilities (Poria et al., 2017).
Shariff et al. (2023) reviewed accessibility in hospitality globally, noting major gaps in
compliance and the need for universal design and disability-inclusive service training.
According to a 2016 BusinessMirror report, only 19 hotels in the Philippines were
officially recognized as PWD-friendly, suggesting limited national adoption of
accessibility standards (Arnaldo, 2016).
Travel blogs also highlight best practices in PWD-friendly hotels such as grab bars, wide
doorways, Braille signage, and staff awareness programs, all of which are rare in smaller
hotel chains or provincial locations.
II. Review of Related Studies
Quantitative studies on PWD accessibility in the Philippine service industry provide
insight into user satisfaction and implementation gaps.
Banate et al. (2025) surveyed PWDs in Cavite and found moderate satisfaction with fast-
food accessibility. They recommended infrastructure improvements and better staff
training.
Gay et al. (2022) conducted a similar study in Bulacan restaurants, revealing high
customer satisfaction but physical accessibility deficiencies, which are applicable to
hotels as well.
The international study by Poria et al. (2017) used structured surveys and statistical
analysis to pinpoint which hotel features most influenced satisfaction for PWD guests,
offering a useful methodology for similar local research.
References
Ahmad Shariff, S. N. F., Mohd Abd Majid, H. A., Yusoff, N. A., Ramli, N., & Anuar, J.
(2023). Accessibility for people with disability (PWD) in hospitality industry.
International Journal of Business and Technology Management, 5(S1), 26–38.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387768875
Arnaldo, M. S. F. (2016, October 4). 19 hotels recognized for being ‘PWD-friendly’.
BusinessMirror. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2016/10/04/19-hotels-recognized-for-
being-pwd-friendly/
Banate, R. M., Ramirez, V., Magdale, J. R. S., Tambal, C., Caones, J., Bombita, C., &
Balite, A. (2025). Customer with disabilities experiences on accessibility of selected
stand-alone fast-food restaurants in Cavite. International Journal of Research in
Education Humanities and Commerce, 5(1). https://ijrehc.com
Gay, D. L., Joaquin, M. A. L., Landicho, J. M., Lazaro, K. S. M., Sorrosa, V. M. V., &
Castro, C. F. T. (2022). Accessible tourism experiences in restaurants: The case of
persons with disabilities residing in Bulacan. Cosmos: An International Journal of Art
and Higher Education, 11(1).
https://www.journals.acspublisher.com/index.php/cijahe/article/view/13014
Poria, Y., Yau, M. K., & Buhalis, D. (2017). Investigating the accessibility factors
affecting hotel satisfaction of people with physical disabilities. International Journal of
Hospitality Management, 65, 29–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2017.06.002
