TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

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Vrbo Wakes Up to the $60B Accessibility Market

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Vrbo has partnered with Becoming rentABLE, the only platform dedicated to listing accessible short-term rentals, to boost their bookings and get a slice of the disability market. 

The partnership launched officially on May 2, building on a relationship that began in 2022 when Becoming rentABLE joined the Expedia Open World™ Accelerator Program.

Currently, fewer than 0.1% of short-term rental properties in the U.S. are truly accessible. Becoming rentABLE champions a broader definition of accessibility—one that extends beyond wheelchair use to include mobility, cognitive, hearing, and vision needs, as well as accommodations for the growing aging population. In alignment with this vision, Vrbo has added search filters for eight new accessibility attributes to its booking platform, recognizing that inclusive design isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s good business. 

Vrbo’s Reimagine Inclusive Travel initiative showcases how small upgrades can have a major impact. Becoming rentABLE created a 10-minute online course offering practical guidance for short term rental hosts, covering inclusive design, overlooked opportunities, and the importance of providing accurate, detailed accessibility descriptions.

With Vrbo’s average group size being five, the likelihood of someone in each party requiring accessible accommodations is significant. Yet the STR industry has failed to keep up. That’s changing now.

About Becoming rentABLE

Becoming rentABLE is the only U.S.-based platform exclusively focused on listing short-term rental properties with verified accessibility features. Its mission is to make travel possible for everyone—regardless of ability. Read more about their partnership with Vrbo here.

About Expedia Group

Expedia Group powers travel for everyone, everywhere through its global platform, featuring leading brands like Expedia, Vrbo, Hotels.com, and more. Check out Vrbo’s accessibility initiative here.

Advice Line: Lessons with Kristy Durso Part One

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Accessibility isn’t about ‘them.’ It’s about all of us.”

When you meet with a city council or tourism board, what single statistic or story most effectively demonstrates the importance of investing in accessibility?

There are a few ways I like to answer this question, but the most impactful is leading with the numbers—because numbers don’t lie and they tell a powerful story.

I’ll often ask travel professionals, “How much do you think people with disabilities spend on accessible travel?” The guesses are usually way off. Some say $10 million, maybe $10 billion if they’re thinking big.

But the truth? Between 2019 and 2020, people with disabilities spent $58.7 billion on accessible travel in the U.S. alone.

And that’s just a fraction of the potential. Many travelers with disabilities still hesitate to travel because they’re afraid their needs won’t be met. Imagine how much higher that figure could be if more destinations were truly inclusive.

It’s also important to realize this isn’t a small group. According to the CDC, 27% of American adults have a diagnosed disability. That’s more than one in four people. This is a major market segment, not a niche.

I also love sharing a moment from my keynotes. I’ll ask the audience, “Who here has a disability or a family member with a disability?” Usually about a third of the room stands. Then I break down what a disability actually includes—vision impairments like wearing glasses, neurodivergence, temporary conditions—and by the end, nearly the entire room is on their feet. It’s a powerful visual. Accessibility isn’t about “them”—it’s about all of us.

Another stat I share: families with a disability spend 30% more when they travel. Sometimes that’s due to extra equipment, but often it’s because better service means their needs are met. If an average family spends $3,000 on a trip, a family with accessibility needs might spend $4,000. Multiply that by how often we travel in larger groups, return to places that treat us well and tell our communities—it adds up fast.

Take Disney World. Ask any U.S.-based accessible travel group where to go, and the first answer is always Disney. Not because of specialized programs, they’ve actually phased some of those out, but because their customer service is consistently excellent. They meet guests’ needs first. That reputation alone has made them a leader in accessible travel, supporting everything from food allergies to wheelchairs to neurodivergencies.

So when I speak with tourism boards or councils, I focus on both sides: the emotional connection and the financial return. Accessibility is the right thing to do—but it’s also smart business. You’re not just meeting needs. You’re building loyalty, encouraging repeat visits, driving higher spend and fueling powerful word of mouth. And in tourism, where everything centers on customer service, that’s everything.

Check back next month for Part Two! Noble Studios conducted a thorough interview with Kristy Durso going over the many facets of creating a destination that is truly for everyone. This series is pulled directly from the interview. Click here for the full interview. 

Kristy Durso is sitting in her wheelchair on the beach, smiling over her shoulder with the beautiful turquoise ocean in the background.

Featured public speaker, accessibilities advocate, entrepreneur, Army veteran, and military wife Kristy Durso is Travelability’s Ambassedor and owns and operates Incredible Memories Travel, a full-service travel agency that assists everyone, including those with accessibility needs. She has three children, one who has autoimmune issues and food allergies, another on the spectrum, and another with cognitive and intellectual disabilities. 

Wanderlust and AdvenChair Scale Mountains Together 

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A collaboration between two outdoor industry pioneers that launched in 2024 yielded a prestigious award last week, even as they were building on the foundation of their teamwork this year.  

Thanks to a grant from Visit Central Oregon’s Future Fund, AdvenChair, an innovative leader in all-terrain wheelchairs, and Wanderlust Tours, Central Oregon’s trailblazer in naturalist-guided adventures, combined to offer a successful series of “AdvenTours” last year.

AdvenTours gave people of all ages with mobility challenges the chance to experience some of Oregon’s most inspiring natural places matching AdvenChair’s unmatched durability, safety, and comfort with Wanderlust’s unique style of education, interpretation, and environmental appreciation. 

At the 2025 Oregon Governor’s Conference on Tourism held at the Portland Convention Center last week, AdvenChair and Wanderlust Tours were honored with the Partnership Award, which recognizes that leveraging traditional and non-traditional partnerships enables organizations and businesses to maximize their budgets, employee capacity, and skill sets to create an increase in efficiencies and a higher-level of aligned outcome. 

According to an announcement from the Oregon Tourism Commission (dba Travel Oregon):

“Wanderlust Tours and AdvenChair won the Oregon Partnership Award for their innovative collaboration to enhance accessibility to Central Oregon’s outdoor experiences for individuals with mobility challenges. By combining Wanderlust Tours’ expertise in guided outdoor adventures with AdvenChair’s all-terrain adaptive wheelchairs, the partnership has created inclusive, immersive tours that allow individuals with mobility issues to explore iconic locations such as Smith Rock State Park and Lava Lands National Monument. This initiative, supported by tourism grants, not only promotes Central Oregon as an accessible, inclusive destination and improves visitor experiences, but also fosters community engagement and exemplifies how creative collaborations can drive positive change.”

Courtney Braun, Owner of Wanderlust Tours, was naturally excited and honored to receive the Partnership Award.

“What started as a great partnership idea from Geoff Babb [AdvenChair’s Chairman] has blossomed into something big and meaningful,” said Braun. “We’re proud to be seen by the tourism community for making the outdoors accessible in Central Oregon. It means that there is great support and momentum for ensuring that all those who desire to adventure are able to do so, regardless of their age or ability.”

AdvenTours begin where the pavement ends.

For Lincoln Foreman, a geologist and stroke survivor, and frequent AdvenTour participant, the appeal of the AdvenChair/Wanderlust partnership is threefold. Not only does the AdvenChair enable him to access the trails of places like Smith Rock State Park where he can actually touch the volcanic tuff, it allows him to enjoy the experience with his wife Cathy and interact with other individuals who share his love for natural sciences, as well as to learn about local history, geology and culture from Wanderlust’s engaging guides. 

“Being able to access nature beyond the pavement – actually way past the pavement – together is something we’ve never been able to do since Lincoln’s stroke 15 years ago,” said Cathy Foreman. “So having these opportunities is really important to both of us.”

Get close to nature, as well as friends and family.

In addition to the pre-arranged AdvenTours, AdvenChair is also available to Wanderlust for special custom tours with advanced reservations. Last year, AdvenTour guests ranged from a six-year-old girl with Down’s Syndrome visiting Crater Lake National Park for the first time to a grandfather who got to explore Smith Rock State Park with more than three dozen family members.

AdvenChair’s Geoff Babb was equally delighted with the growing relationship with Wanderlust Tours and for the recognition they’ve received.

“I’ve witnessed the smiles from so many people who wouldn’t be out in the wilderness without the AdvenChair,” said Babb. “Whether it’s a family with a child who is disabled or a grandparent who can be with their grandkids on their favorite trail as they pass the love of the outdoors on to future generations, it’s very heartwarming to see. We are just so grateful to collaborate with a group like Wanderlust Tours who love the outdoors as much as we do and know how to share it.”

About AdvenChair:

AdvenChair is an all-terrain wheelchair designed for people with mobility challenges who want to venture off the beaten path and experience the grandeur of the wilderness. It is the brainchild of Geoff Babb, a fire ecologist and avid outdoorsman from Bend, Oregon, who loved to ski, mountain bike and backpack with his wife and twin boys until a near-fatal brain stem stroke on November 10, 2005 forced him to use a wheelchair.  

While the stroke forever changed his ability to move, Babb soon discovered that the biggest obstacle to experiencing a simple outing on local trails with his family again was not so much his body, but the frailties of common wheelchairs. Rather than lobbying for wheelchair-accessible wilderness trails, Babb chose to develop a wheelchair capable of adapting to the trails, and the AdvenChair was born.

On November 10, 2017, exactly 12 years to the day after his stroke, Babb survived a second brain stem stroke, which was a major setback. Yet it made him more determined than ever to share his all-terrain chair with other people dealing with permanent or temporary limited mobility. While developing the first AdvenChair, Babb also launched The Onward Project, LLC, to inspire, encourage and enable outdoor adventures for people of all abilities.

To learn more about AdvenChair and follow its journeys on social media, visit advenchair.com.

About Wanderlust Tours:

Since 1993, Wanderlust Tours has welcomed guests to vibrantly share the natural and cultural history of Oregon in order to instill appreciation and protection of the environment. We hold great respect for the natural surroundings of our beautiful central Oregon landscape and hope to introduce people to these delicate ecosystems while maintaining a low impact on the environment. Wanderlust Tours is made up of people who are passionate about the intricacies of nature. We thrive on sharing our knowledge and passion for the natural world with those who join our tours!

We are so excited to be partnering with AdvenChair and to help those with mobility challenges get into the outdoors and explore beautiful areas that initially may not seem accessible. With the AdvenChair off-road wheelchair, we can empower every member of our community in their quest for adventure!

Shiftings, Shaftings, and Celebrations

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Big moves in accessibility: retirements, resignations, and new horizons

Ron Pettit smiling with short dark hair and glasses

Ron Pettit, the award-winning head of accessibility and inclusion that made Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines the most accessible cruise organization in the world, announced his retirement after 14+ years. 

Amy Jukes smiles at the camera, wearing bold black and tortoiseshell-rimmed glasses. She has long, wavy blonde hair.

Amy Jukes, COO of Sage Inclusion, will be departing after seven years with the organization. 

Skylar Houck smiling broadly at the camera with long dark blond hair and a green sweater vest.

Skylar Houck, marketing manager for Visit Tampa, will be sailing over to Mainsail Lodging, a management company with nine hotels in Florida and Georgia. 

Christine DeMichael with long black hair and a blue blazar on.

Christine DeMichael, an acclaimed social media marketing expert, was recently appointed as Director of Integrated Marketing for The Palm Beaches. 

Kent Streeb, VP Communications and Partnerships, Enchroma, the leading producer of glasses for the color-blind, has resigned after 11 years with the company

John Morris and Stephanie in formal clothing smiling and showing off Stephanie's engagement ring.

John Morris, Founder of WheelchairTravel.org, and a leading voice in accessible tourism, is tying the knot with Stephanie (Stevie). We wish them a lifetime of love and shared adventures.

John Sage and Christal in front of a red and white striped wall. Christal is dressed in a blue two piece knit skirt set and has long blond hair. John is sitting in his wheelchair with light blue pants matching the color of Christal's outfit.

John Sage, founder and CEO of Accessible Travel Solutions and a pioneer in accessible cruise travel, will soon be saying “I do” to Christal. Cheers to a beautiful future together.

TravelAbility – Now Streaming!

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DMOs and disability travel content creators now have a powerful new way to share their accessibility stories—on television. TravelAbility has teamed up with Gray Digital Media to launch The TravelAbility Channel, a first-of-its-kind streaming channel dedicated to accessible travel content, available for free on the hyperlocal OTT platform, Zeam.

This new channel will give destinations the chance to showcase the accessibility content they’re already creating—everything from inclusive attraction highlights to adaptive outdoor adventures. By leveraging Gray’s distribution network of 180 TV stations and Zeam’s rapidly growing platform, tourism boards can now amplify their efforts to a national audience that includes travelers with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.

“The beauty of this new channel is that it gives destinations a free, ready-made platform to showcase inclusion—content they may already have sitting on a hard drive or YouTube channel. Now, they can bring it to life in living rooms across the country.”

Jake Steinman, founder of TravelAbility

Check out the announcement on EINPresswire for full details!

For destinations looking to reach more travelers through storytelling—and for creators ready to bring accessible travel to the mainstream—this new channel may be the biggest opportunity yet.

To learn more or inquire about featuring your content, contact Amy Jukes at amy@amvarra.com.

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