In the world of Disability, each life story—and each impairment—is as unique and individual as a fingerprint. Yet within our diverse intersectional community, smaller groups who share more than just a common identity exist. Take, for instance, the community of wheelchair users and, within our group, the subgroup to which I belong: the spinal cord injured. When individuals within specific subsets get the chance to connect, all small talk instantly goes out the window. You get straight to the heart of the matter, especially when you speak of parallels in both the cause and effect of your Disability.
So it was unsurprising that when I met Tim Reynolds, founder and owner of Àni Private Resorts—a collection of exclusive-use private resorts and coastal retreats spread across Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the Caribbean—and a fellow paraplegic, artist, and avid traveler, all prepared interview plans were abandoned rather quickly. Instead, we ventured into the type of candid conversation only those with such common ground permit us to tread—or, should I say, roll.
I’ve wanted to meet Tim for a long time. Not merely because we have similar levels of paralysis, both caused by car crashes, but more interestingly, because l discovered that he too used art and travel to help re-find his identity after his injury. As we settled down at a cozy Manhattan restaurant in the bustling Lower East Side, we chatted about everything from disability and hotels to art and Burning Man. Plus, I got to ask him how and why he created a luxury hotel brand that places accessibility at the forefront.
A version of this article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller UK.
Sophie Morgan for Condé Nast Traveler: Earlier this year, I visited Àni Resorts in the Dominican Republic. Clearly, the space has been designed with you in mind; the step-free access and widened doorways are heavenly for wheelchair users. How involved were you in the conception and design of each space?
Tim Reynolds: I am so glad you enjoyed it. I stay very involved in the design. Frankly, it’s fun. I’m so surprised more resorts aren’t accessible. I mean, why not? You are missing out on good business. When it comes to designing the resorts, it is all about planning all the details – little things can add up to a great experience. We are constantly learning and adapting according to guest requests, ensuring we are always one step ahead. The organizer of each trip is introduced to the general manager of each resort as soon as a reservation is confirmed, which ensures that even before arrival, guests are given the confidence to know that our team understands any priorities and requirements before reaching our resorts. We always ask, “What can we do to make your stay more comfortable?” Our mantra is providing guests with what they want before they know they want it, and design plays a significant role in that commitment.
Typically, luxury hotels and resorts tend to minimize the impact of the accessibility features or hide them altogether. But at Àni, one of the first things I noticed on arrival was the pool hoist, front and center. It made me instantly feel welcome and included.
TR: That’s great to hear. We want all guests, regardless of their abilities, to feel welcome. We don’t want Disabled people to think they are an afterthought. As you’ve seen in the Dominican Republic resort, the main goal is totally easy and safe access everywhere that guests can go, but what we pride ourselves on most of all is our attentive staff.
With the help of the staff, as well as removing the many physical barriers that disabled people have to endure when traveling, at Àni you have also removed the attitudinal ones. I assume this is a learned trait from interacting with you so regularly?
TR: We have one member of staff per client, so there are always staff looking for guests who might need anything. For people with Disabilities, this makes such an impact. But at the same time, it’s paramount that our team knows when to leave a guest alone. I love that they always think ahead, such as laying wooden boards on the beach so that I can wheel my chair around.
There are so many advantages of a private resort like Àni for travelers with Disabilities: the privacy, the attention to detail, the bespoke menus, and the quiet spaces—just to name just a few. When you travel to any of the resorts with your friends and family, how do you find having the whole resort to yourself, from a wheelchair user’s perspective?
TR: I believe anyone traveling in a group would strongly prefer a private resort. You can let loose, be yourself, be loud or quiet, and not have to deal with strangers. It’s nice around the pool and spa, where you’d prefer privacy and exclusive access. We even bring the spa to the pool for treatments, like a head and foot massage while you can take in the sun with friends and a cocktail. I think as a wheelchair user, private resorts feel even more special, as you know you’ll be surrounded by people who you trust and won’t make you feel uncomfortable.
Àni is an excellent example of how luxury accommodation can be designed with wheelchair users in mind and still be beautiful. Was this important to you?
TR: For me, being at the resort means being able to switch off entirely and leave my worries at the door, and part of that is about making sure I am not reminded about my Disability all the time. Inclusive design prevents that. I want Àni to feel like a level playing field.
Each Àni resort has an art academy connected to it—schools connected to the resorts where locals can enroll to become artists. Why was this so important to you?
TR: In a way, the Áni Art Academies drove the resort project. Once I realized the potential for the academies to transform lives, I saw the need for resorts to support the schools. Guests enjoy visiting the academies, and we have in-resort activities like painting classes and portrait drawing evenings with live music and apprentices creating great sketches of guests in an enjoyable setting. Guests often commission portraits of a loved one that apprentices will take a month to complete and ship. It’s the ultimate souvenir from the vacation of a lifetime.
How did art and travel help you in the aftermath of your injury?
TR: My spinal injury taught me that life is fragile, but also that trauma grounds you and puts everything into perspective. Discovering ways to travel and make art has taken on a profound importance to me. Escaping into worlds unknown, both imagined on canvas or in real life, through adventuring has made having a spinal injury bearable. Ultimately, for me, nothing matters more than sharing an experience or holiday with my family and close friends. I visit all of the Àni resorts regularly, but I also love going to new places for different experiences. I recently went to Burning Man, for example, with some friends and had a blast.
How did you manage at Burning Man in your wheelchair?
TR: Honestly, the weather was bad, so it wasn’t easy, but I made sure to have the right people and equipment with me when needed. In comparison to any of the Àni resorts, where I can get around everywhere super easy, it definitely tested me, but I enjoy challenges just as much as comfort sometimes.
