BnB Switzerland is an OK:GO partner
Information on accessibility takes the worry out of booking accommodation for people with restricted mobility. It's all thanks to our partnership with OK:GO.
"Barrierefreie Schweiz" launched OK:GO in 2019
The OK:GO initiative is the brainchild of the Barrierefreie Schweiz accessibility interest group. Its objective is to support tourism providers in Switzerland by offering a simple way to record and publish information on the accessibility of their facilities and services. This makes travel planning easier for people with disabilities, seniors and families with young children.
The desire to travel is in each of us
For people with disabilities, seniors, and families with small children, well-earned vacations often involve a huge amount of forward planning. They need advance information on the accessibility of tourist facilities such as accommodation, museums, and cableways to ensure that all goes smoothly, and everyone has a great time.
Many tourism providers in Switzerland offer experiences that those with impaired mobility can enjoy like anyone else. The problem is the lack of publicly available information. That's what Barrierefreie Schweiz's OK:GO initiative sets out to change.
Here's where you'll find all the accommodation that offers additional information on accessibility:
OK:GO and BnB Switzerland
BnB Switzerland welcomes and supports the initiative and has therefore recently also become a partner of OK:GO with its approximately 700 accommodation providers. BnB Switzerland has set up an interface to enable immediate mapping of the recorded accessibility information.
However, accommodation providers are free to choose whether or not to collect the data.
The image of the OK:GO logo on an accommodation page means that information about the accessibility of this offer is available. By clicking on the logo, you switch to a new page and see all relevant information at a glance. If no logo is shown, nothing has been recorded by the hosts either.
Attention: This function is not available in BnB Switzerland's app for various reasons.
OK:GO and Swisstainable
By participating, BnB Switzerland hosts who are willing to provide accessibility information to OK:GO automatically earn eligible proof for Swisstainable, the Switzerland Tourism sustainability program.
All you need is one other item of proof and you can achieve Level II Swisstainable certification.
8 reasons to register with OK:GO
- A simple, effective and free way of providing information to guests with specific needs.
- Considerable added value for people with impaired mobility, and therefore an incentive to book your accommodation worry free.
- Avoid repeated e-mails and calls from guests asking about accessibility at your accommodation.
- No inconvenience or nasty surprises for either party, and no additional effort accommodating guests with limited mobility.
- Objective, neutral information about accessibility. It does not matter whether your accommodation is barrier-free or not. Each guest can decide for themselves what they need from their vacation.
- You play your part in inclusive tourism, catering to the needs of people with disabilities and making it easier for them to travel.
- Uncomplicated linking of data with www.bnb.ch
- Eligible proof for Swisstainable Level II
View the new introductory video from the OK:GO initiative here (2 minutes - in German)
Follow these steps to register your accommodation
Entering data
Use the data entry tool (the ginto app) to provide information on the accessibility of your accommodation. To do this, use your phone to scan the QR code, or download the ginto app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Begin by creating an account.
Here you can also download the Quick Start Guide:
Publication
As soon as you have registered accessibility information using the ginto app, you can share it with BnB Switzerland (see page 17 of the instructions. To do this, click on the property in question and then on the 'share' symbol (the box with the arrow) at the top right of the screen. Copy the link or write it down, and then enter it in the 'Membership -> OK:GO' section of the BnB Switzerland member area (my.bnb.ch or www.bnb.ch/member). Don't forget to save the addition. The OK:GO logo will then appear automatically on the website entry for your accommodation. It is linked to the accessibility information you have provided.
Frequently asked questions in connection with OK:GO
Questions from accommodation providers
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It costs nothing to be part of the OK:GO initiative. At no point will you be asked for payment information. OK:GO is funded through 2025 by Innotour, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) tourism innovation program. It is therefore free of charge for all members. You would be notified in good time should any charge be introduced in the future. Even if that were the case, participation would remain voluntary.
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See above: '8 reasons to register with OK:GO'.
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By downloading the free ginto app and then entering your data. Instructions and the QR code are also shown above.
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That depends on the size of your accommodation. You only have to enter the data once, so it is worth setting aside the time to avoid repeated enquiries from guests with impaired mobility in the future. They will be able to see from the website whether the room is on the ground floor, or if you have a lift, for example.
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No, data can only be entered via the app. There is a relatively simple reason for this. Entering data on your phone means that you walk through your accommodation, measuring everything accurately and entering the data as you go.
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Accessibility information should always be kept up to date. You can make any changes via the app at any time.
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OK:GO Initiative
Förderverein Barrierefreie Schweiz
c/o Schweizer Tourismus-Verband
Finkenhubelweg 11
3012 Bern
Telefon: +41 44 461 14 82
E-Mail: [email protected] -
Yes, the OK:GO logo is highly visible on your accommodation page. Guests can also use a filter function to find registered properties.
Frequently asked questions from guests
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All accommodation pages that have OK:GO information on accessibility show the OK:GO logo. You can also use the 'OK:GO' filter function so that you will only be shown properties for which information is available.
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Hosts are asked to keep their information updated.