Living Inclusion: Fatma’s Journey at Cocoon Hotels
When Fatma started her internship in our Reservations Department, many things were new. Not only for her, but also for us. Today, the 30-year-old from Salzburg is an integral part of our team and demonstrates every day how naturally inclusion can work in everyday working life.
Fatma is completely blind. After completing her training as an office administrator, her internship at Cocoon Hotels marked both her first step into the hospitality industry and her first long-term professional opportunity. The position was arranged through a program by the Austrian Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer) aimed at supporting people with disabilities.
It became clear within the first few weeks just how much potential this collaboration held. Following the three-month internship, Fatma joined us as a permanent team member and has been supporting the Reservations Department ever since.
The onboarding process was a valuable learning experience for everyone involved. Since Fatma works exclusively with a keyboard, keyboard shortcuts, screen-reading software and a Braille display, some existing workflows had to be rethought. Together, we developed solutions, adapted processes and found ways to make information as accessible as possible.
Especially during the first months, Fatma received intensive support. The notes and documentation she created continue to help her quickly look up procedures and handle new tasks efficiently.
In her daily work, she reviews online imports and manages reservations within the hotel management system Apaleo, among other responsibilities. She works independently, accurately and with great attention to detail. Her start was supported by job coaching as well as technical aids made possible through public funding programs.
But Fatma is not the only one who has grown during this journey. Our team has learned a great deal as well. Working together has shown us that many perceived barriers are smaller than they seem when people approach each other with openness, learn from one another and focus on individual strengths.
For us, inclusion means creating opportunities and fostering potential. Not out of obligation, but because diversity enriches teams and brings new perspectives.
Fatma’s journey at Cocoon Hotels shows what becomes possible when people are given the opportunity to contribute their skills and talents. For us, inclusion is not a project. It is part of our everyday work. And that is exactly what makes our team a little stronger every day. ✨
