TravelAbility Summit Cheat sheet: The State of Accessibility in Travel Today 

Each month we share a recap from one of the sessions at the 2025 TravelAbility Summit. Check out the opening session on the state of accessible travel today.

Speakers 

• Jake Steinman – Founder, TravelAbility 
• Arturo Gaona –Chief Partnerships Officer, Wheel the World
• Kristy Durso – Founder, Incredible Memories Travel / Ambassador, TravelAbility 

Session Overview 

This session traced the evolution of accessible travel from a compliance-based approach to a marketing-driven movement rooted in inclusion, innovation, and economic opportunity. The panel reflected on industry growth since 2019—when accessibility was largely overlooked—to 2025, where it’s becoming a mainstream priority. Speakers highlighted personal experiences, technological progress, and the increasing recognition of accessibility as both a moral and financial imperative. 

Key Insights 

• 2019: Accessibility was an afterthought, often managed without dedicated budgets or plans. 
• 2021–2022: Awareness grew as data from Open Doors and other research groups revealed accessibility’s market value. 
• 2025: Accessibility has transitioned from Destination Development to Marketing, signaling industry maturity and opportunity. 
• Data Shift: Longwoods International now reports 18% of U.S. travelers require accessibility services—an upward trend. 
• Personal Connection: Every traveler is affected by accessibility in some way, either directly or through family and companions. 
• Industry Growth: TravelAbility expanded from 60 to nearly 200 attendees annually, reflecting accelerating industry engagement. 

Actionable Takeaways 

• Invest intentionally: Accessibility needs to be budgeted and planned, not just funded by grants. 
• Integrate marketing: Position accessibility as a core part of destination branding, not an add-on. 
• Leverage influencers: Content creators drive visibility and authenticity in accessible travel marketing. 
• Provide clarity: Offer detailed, accurate accessibility information so travelers can make informed choices. 
• Use provided tools: TravelAbility will share template pages and AI-assisted surveys for destinations, hotels, and attractions to collect and present accessibility data consistently.

Notable Quotes 

• “Accessibility has become the new big movement—just like sustainability was 20 years ago. If you aren’t pursuing it now, you’ll get left behind.” — Kristy Durso
• “The ADA was written for the median—it works for half the people and not for the other half. Because there’s no ADA for information, travelers don’t know which half they’re in until they arrive.” — Jake Steinman 
• “We can’t depend on grants to move accessibility forward. We need to budget for it, plan for it, and recognize the ROI.” — Arturo Gaona 

Want to be part of these conversations in real time? 

Join us November 9–11, 2026, in Tampa, Florida, for the 2026 TravelAbility Summit. It’s where destinations, venues, and travel brands come together to advance accessibility in a practical, business-smart way. Over two days of case studies, workshops, and peer learning, industry leaders share proven strategies that improve the travel experience for people with disabilities—and, by extension, for families, multigenerational groups, and travelers with temporary or situational limitations. Meet the advisors, suppliers, and destination teams leading the way, and leave with a roadmap you can put to work immediately.