SPECIAL NEEDS AT SEA WINS SEATRADE INSIDER “ONBOARD SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR” AWARD AT SEATRADE EUROPE 2009 CRUISE CONFERENCE

FT LAUDERDALE, FL – Special Needs at Sea, a global provider of special needs equipment for travelers and the travel industry, was honored as winner of the "Onboard Supplier of the Year" Award at the third annual Seatrade Insider Awards held in Hamburg, Germany on September 15; part of Seatrade Europe 2009. 

"The high caliber of the Seatrade organization and strength of all the nominees make this award even more significant for us," says Andrew Garnett, founder and president of Special Needs at Sea. "Additionally, it underscores the importance to the industry of what we provide and validates our commitment to accessible cruising."

Special Needs at Sea, a Special Needs Group Inc. company, provides cruise passengers and cruise ships with a broad range of special needs equipment for purchase and rental, including wheelchairs, scooters and powerchairs with capabilities to support 500 pounds or more; oxygen in all its forms; hearing impaired equipment, Braille printing, baby cribs and more. The company delivers the needed equipment directly to the passenger’s stateroom at cruise ship ports around the world, and is currently testing a pier-side kiosk program in Fort Lauderdale and Seattle for self pick-up of wheelchair rentals and scooter rentals.  

Earlier this year, Special Needs at Sea became the first accessibility preferred partner benefits supplier for the Cruise Line Industry Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise line association, and is a sponsor of SATH, the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality. Special Needs at Sea is a Preferred Mobility and Oxygen Supplier of Holland America Line and Royal Caribbean and also services the other major lines including Princess, Crystal, Celebrity, Carnival, Disney, Costa and others.    

The Seatrade Insider Awards presentation, a yearly highlight of Seatrade Europe, was held at the Schmidts Tivoli Theatre in Hamburg.  Fidelio Cruise was a principle sponsor of the awards. Judging for the awards is by a select panel of industry executives, members of Seatrade Insider’s global editorial team, cruise consultants, analysts and industry experts from around the world.

ABOUT SPECIAL NEEDS GROUP, INC.

  Special Needs Group, Inc.  (www.specialneedsgroup.com) is a one-stop resource for special needs travel around the world. We offer a broad range of special needs equipment including wheelchair, powerchair and scooter rentals with capabilities to support 500 pounds or more; oxygen rentals (liquid, cylinder, and concentrator); hearing impaired equipment, Braille printing, baby cribs and more.  Recommended by the world’s major cruise lines and hotels for superior service and value, we also provide consultation services regarding special needs policy and new-build design.  Special Needs Group, a U.S. company, is not a travel agency and does not compete in any way with travel agents.