Introduction
1. Good afternoon everyone. I’m very excited to be here this afternoon, and be a part of a very meaningful endeavour in driving and powering inclusion. This afternoon, we celebrate a very meaningful milestone in Ascott’s disability inclusion journey — the launch of its Disability Inclusion Playbook for the Accommodation Sector. This marks a very proud moment for a home-grown Singapore hospitality brand making a global impact.
Launch of the Playbook
2. Hospitality, at its heart, is about people and creating places where everyone feels welcomed. This playbook is a practical guide to help hospitality operators implement inclusive practices, as well as put those beliefs into action.
3. It is a key outcome of the Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between Ascott and SG Enable — the first partnership of its kind in Singapore’s hospitality sector. Now, through this partnership, Ascott has taken a holistic approach that is anchored on five key pillars: Inclusive Spaces, Inclusive Digital Interfaces, Inclusive Hiring, Inclusive Training, and Inclusive Programmes.
4. Since then, Ascott has truly walked the talk — enhancing hiring practices, redesigning job roles to be more inclusive, and opening meaningful opportunities for persons with visible and invisible disabilities in Singapore, Indonesia, and many other jurisdictions.
5. Today, let me share the story of Mohamad Fadzil Bin Abdolah, who joined Ascott last year as an administrative executive. Following a stroke that affected his mobility, Fadzil experienced weakness on one side of his body. To accommodate his needs, his colleagues provide him with some accommodation, such as additional time for tasks, and held meetings in his office or virtually to minimise travel. As Fadzil shared, "It's reassuring to be in an environment where my contributions are valued, and my needs are respected." Fadzil’s story exemplifies how inclusive practices creates workplaces where every individual, regardless of ability, can thrive and contribute meaningfully.
6. And together with SG Enable’s Enabling Academy, Ascott also launched Singapore’s first hospitality-specific disability inclusion training at the Ascott Centre for Excellence — a significant step in building sector-wide capabilities.
7. They did not do this Playbook to keep it on a shelf or cabinet, or see how it could be a proprietary benefit for themselves. In fact, they want to share it with other partners in the sector, so that we can popularise and propagate its advantages.
8. Now, what does this Playbook provide? It provides guidance on inclusive room design, accessible digital interfaces for online booking systems, and job redesign for persons with disabilities.
9. The playbook is a very valuable step forward — it sets a new benchmark for the hospitality industry here in Singapore and globally. It is also very encouraging to see that respected partners such as the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and The Valuable 500 endorsing this effort.
10. Its open-access nature reflects Ascott’s commitment and belief that inclusion is a shared journey. The playbook’s cover itself tells this story, with artworks co-created by Ascott’s associates and artists from SG Enable’s i’mable Collective. It is indeed a beautiful symbol of collaboration and inclusion.
11. Ascott’s efforts are aligned with our national roadmap, the Enabling Masterplan 2030, where we really hope to build a Singapore where everyone can live, work, play, and contribute meaningfully to an inclusive society.
12. Under the Masterplan, for the hospitality sector, we have also launched sector-specific initiatives such as the Sector Train-and-Place programme for Tourism & Hospitality, supporting persons with disabilities through vocational training, job matching, and on-the-job support.
13. I am encouraged and quietly optimistic by the steady progress we have made with the employment rate of persons with disabilities aged between 15 and 64 has risen from 28.2% in 2019 to 2020, to 33.6% in 2023 to 2024. By 2030, we want to 40%. This is a stretch target and a stretch goal.
14. With everybody working hard – SGE, MSF, corporate partners, and all of us: supervisors, employees and fellow citizens – making sure that we all give this a push, cooperation must remain key to the push for inclusion.
Conclusion
15. To conclude, I want to offer my heartiest congratulations to Ascott and SG Enable for your leadership, vision and partnership. I would also like to acknowledge World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Valuable 500 — whose advocacy has helped shape this milestone.
16. The dedication shown by Ascott and others demonstrates that Singapore’s commitment to inclusion and excellence doesn’t have to be one or the other. It can be one and the same. I thank all of you for showing the world how a little red dot like Singapore can leverage and champion inclusive growth, where no one is left behind.
17. Thank you.