The 2025 TravelAbility Summit in Sunriver, Oregon, marked a true turning point for inclusive travel through record attendance, powerful storytelling, and partnerships that prove accessibility is shaping the future of tourism.
Nearly 200 industry leaders, from DMOs and hotels to tech innovators and disability advocates, came together under the theme “The Future of Inclusive Travel.” Ideas flowed, connections sparked, and the message was clear: accessibility is the heart of good hospitality.
“One of the most gratifying things to me is that the conference has added a moral dimension to the travel industry, creating purpose in attendees as they learn how to make a real difference in the world,” said Jake Steinman, Founder and CEO of TravelAbility. “This is what drives change. The next step is leadership buy-in, and the Longwoods study we presented gives the data to back the purpose. By partnering with AARP, we’re bridging today’s disability travel with tomorrow’s aging market.”
New This Year: Film Fest, Influencer Project, and More
This year’s Summit unveiled a series of firsts designed to keep accessibility at the forefront of tourism growth:
- The TravelAbility Film Fest premiered during the event, celebrating powerful, real-world storytelling that builds empathy and understanding through the lens of accessible travel.
- The Influencer Project paired destinations with disability creators to tell authentic accessibility stories and reach new audiences hungry for representation.
Partnerships in Action
This wasn’t a summit centered on talking, we were serious about doing.
Destinations took big steps – from partnering with Wheel the World to commit to accessibility verification and transparency, to moving forward with the Accessibility Playbook or connecting with innovators to transform spaces.
“This community is ENGAGED, we’re PASSIONATE, and we have a SOLID PLAN,” said Robert Harris, Manager of Global Accessibility at Royal Caribbean Group. “I came away with so much energy and so many ideas—now, to put them to work in a sequential, developmental, and sustainable way.”
Panels featuring disabled travelers grounded the discussions in lived experience, turning data into empathy and empathy into strategy.
Looking Ahead
As we wrap a record-breaking year, TravelAbility’s mission is clearer than ever: to educate, empower, and connect the industry so every traveler feels welcome.
Next year, we’ll take the momentum to Tampa, Florida, on November 9-11th, 2026 where we’ll continue helping host cities become models of accessibility.
“Our goal is to help future host cities become examples of what’s possible,” said Steinman. “We’ll help them implement plug-and-play innovations to create destinations truly worth celebrating.”
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