New at the TravelAbility Summit: The Grant Lab

Finding funding for accessibility work can be one of the biggest hurdles to turning a good idea into a real project. That’s why we’re bringing The Grant Lab to the 2026 TravelAbility Summit in Tampa.

As we’ve been building this year’s program, we’ve been looking for ways to give attendees practical tools, new connections, and ideas they can actually put to work.

The Grant Lab is designed to do exactly that.

This full-day breakout session will bring together grant funders, experienced grant writers, economic development officials, AI experts, and past grant recipients to help attendees navigate the funding process, from finding the right opportunities to writing stronger applications and managing funds once they’re awarded.

“Between 10-25% of grant funding is left unclaimed every single year simply because destinations don’t know where to look or how to apply. The Grant Lab gives destination leaders a real, actionable roadmap — from finding the right grants to writing winning applications to managing funds once they’re awarded.”

Jake Steinman, Founder, TravelAbility.

A Full Day of Expert-Led Learning

The Grant Lab’s “Grant Seeking 101” curriculum brings together nationally recognized funders, writers, economic development officials, and past grant recipients for a day of practical, hands-on learning, including:

• Meet the Grant Whisperer: Bevon Joseph, Founder and CEO of Grantlogic AI, opens the day with insights from 12 years as a grant funder and applicant, exploring how AI-driven platforms are transforming grant discovery and matching DMOs with the right funding, writers, and consultants.
• Meet the Grant-Writing Maven: Fundamentals for Tourism & Higher Education: National grant consultant Cheryl Dettrick, who has secured funding for UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management and major tourism initiatives, shares proven strategies for crafting winning proposals.
• Meet the Grant Winners: A panel of past grant winners walks attendees through the full journey of securing, managing, and maximizing funding for accessible tourism projects.
• Meet the Grant Gate Keepers: A Fireside Chat with Local Economic Development Leaders: Regional officials discuss the viability of accessibility grants for local destinations and the untapped funding opportunities many communities are missing.
• AI in Action: A look at how artificial intelligence tools are streamlining grant search, administration, and reporting.
• Rotating Roundtables with Experts: Intimate, small-group sessions give attendees direct access to grant experts and experienced recipients before lunch.

Who Should Attend?

The Grant Lab is designed for destination marketing organizations, convention and visitors bureaus, economic development officials, tourism businesses, and any organization seeking to fund accessibility assessments, accessibility upgrades, or inclusive marketing initiatives.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore accessibility as a competitive edge or looking to take an existing strategy further, the goal is the same: help you find the funding and know-how to move your ideas forward.

Why Funding Accessibility Matters

Accessibility is not a niche concern. It is a rapidly growing economic imperative.

By 2030, 284 million Americans will be impacted by a disability. Destinations that invest in accessibility open their doors to a broader, more loyal visitor base while strengthening their communities for residents with disabilities and aging populations alike.

The Grant Lab equips attendees with the tools to turn that opportunity into funded, actionable projects, ensuring destinations of every size — from major metros to small regional communities — can compete for available funding.

And The Grant Lab is just one part of what we’re bringing to the 2026 TravelAbility Summit, November 9–11 at the Hilton Tampa Downtown.

We’ll be bringing together destination leaders, travel companies, accessibility professionals, creators, and advocates for three days of connection, fresh ideas, and practical strategies for making travel more accessible.

Ready to join us in Tampa?