TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Editorial

What the Founder and CEO of TravelAbility Just Doesn’t Get

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Jake Steinman shares the simplest, and most essential, missing piece in hotel accessibility in this Travel Weekly article. Read the article here, or get the gist with this rap version!

Hey, hotels, listen up, it’s time to take a stand,
Spent millions on compliance, now let’s lend a hand.
ADA’s in place, but there’s more to be done,
Add an accessibility page, make it number one.

You got the ramps, the lifts, the wide doorways,
But what about the info that truly paves the way?
Dimensions and details, post ’em online,
For travelers with disabilities, it’s a lifeline.

From compliant to welcoming, it’s not that hard,
Transparency’s the key, let down your guard.
Post the data, make it clear and bright,
For every guest in a wheelchair, make it right.

CDC says one in four got a disability,
But only 15% travel, that’s the reality.
Hotels, step up, make a change today,
Post the info online, show the way.

Heads in accessible beds, let’s make it known,
Hotels can be welcoming, let it be shown.
From compliance to care, it’s a simple move,
Let’s make every stay a welcoming groove.

TravelAbility Launches TravelAbility Trusted, a New Program to Promote Accessibility in the Travel Industry

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Sausalito, CA.  TravelAbility, the leading organization working to improve the travel experience for people with disabilities, has announced the launch of TravelAbility Trusted, a new program that aims to connect travel industry professionals with pre-qualified consultants, service providers, and cutting-edge innovations that can help them become more accessible and inclusive.

TravelAbility Trusted is based on the judges’ selections from five years of the InnovateAble Showcase pitch fest event, as well as the feedback from destinations about the viability for use by their industry partners.

“TravelAbility Trusted is our way of sharing our knowledge and network with the travel industry and making it easier for them to find the best resources and partners to meet their accessibility needs,” said Jake Steinman, founder, and CEO of TravelAbility. “We believe that accessibility is not only a human right, but also a business opportunity, and we want to help the industry tap into the growing market of travelers with disabilities and other emerging markets.”

TravelAbility Trusted Partners Comes to Life

In addition to its regular programming at Travelability’s EMS Summit, this year we will add an exclusive concurrent tabletop exhibit area where attendees can meet with TravelAbility Trusted vendors in person as well as half-day workshop on the travel needs of the aging traveler.  TravelAbility Trusted will also be promoted to the travel trade through TravelAbility Insider, a monthly newsletter with news, trends, and information about accessibility, and Accessible Journeys Magazine, a quarterly travel magazine for consumers. “TravelAbility is more than just an organization, it’s a movement,” said Steinman. “We are proud to be part of a growing community of travelers, innovators, and advocates who are working together to make travel easier and more accessible for everyone.”

TravelAbility Trusted Partners

Check out our current list of partners on our website:

Solution Providers: Innovations, technologies and amenities  https://travelability.net/trusted-problem-solvers

Services Providers: Provide consulting, assessments and advisory services: https://travelability.net/trusted-service-providers/

Was 2023 The Year That Accessibility Entered the Mainstream Zeitgeist?

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Collage of logos of Conde Nast, the American Pavilion,, BBC, and USA Today accompanied by a pull quote from Jake Steinman: "It feels like the message of accessible travel is a growing part of the general zeitgeist."

This past year felt different. TravelAbility’s growth rate has accelerated in each of our five years, but we seemed to break through some sort of barrier in 2023. Inquiries and invitations have been coming from all directions—from regions and destinations from throughout the US, from large travel and hospitality companies, from new global partners like the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival and Destinations International.

“It does feel like the message of accessible travel is penetrating all parts of the industry and is a growing part of the general zeitgeist,” says Jake Steinman, TravelAbility founder and CEO. “Companies are seeing it as a lucrative market and they are bringing in trainers to improve their service. And, as evidenced by the unprecedented growth of the number of adaptive/assistive technologies as well as ‘Age-Tech’ at this year’s CES in Las Vegas, the level of innovations is staggering.”

Steinman adds that TravelAbility is riding a wave that begins with travelers with disability and advocates. “It’s about quality of life and predictability.  Individuals have configured their homes and studied their neighborhood so that they can live independently. But when they go to travel, it’s Russian Roulette because there’s so little information.”

The mainstream media is also paying more attention to the issue, according to Tricia Roth, head of marketing and engagement. “One of the main reasons we’re trying out more of a roundup approach in this issue of Insider is because of the number of articles we’re seeing in major publications, from USA Today to NPR, The New York Times, Condé Nast to the BBC has mushroomed.”

Here is a rundown of some of the markers and highlights that stood out for us in 2023:

A pull quote from Tricia Roth: "The number of articles we're seeing about accessibility in major publications has mushroomed."
  • Partnering with Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for destination organizations, to reach over 700 destinations worldwide and help them improve their accessibility.
  • Hosting the sold-out EMS Summit, the premier event for travel professionals and experts to learn, network, and showcase the latest innovations in accessibility. (Our 2024 EMS Summit will be held November 13-15, in San Francisco.)
  • Growing the Destination A11Y Club, a membership program that provides destinations with access to exclusive content, tools, and support to enhance their accessibility to 18 destinations last year from nine in 2022,
  • Nearly doubling the content of the Accessibility Playbook, a comprehensive guide that contains over 100 links to videos, presentations, and examples of accessibility best practices from various sectors of the travel industry.
  • Publishing a special edition of USAE News, a leading publication for association executives, that featured a wrap-up of the EMS Summit and offered exposure to the sponsors and speakers.
  • Launching Accessible Journeys, a quarterly online magazine in collaboration with Mélange Publishing, that showcases inspiring stories, tips, and destinations for travelers with disabilities. The magazine reached over 1.7 million readers in the summer edition.
  • Rebranding the Launchpad pitch fest as the InnovateAble Showcase, an annual event that celebrates the most creative and impactful accessibility solutions in the travel industry. The event coincides with the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26th.
  • Invite to advise the American Pavilion at Cannes Film Festival about how they can become for accessible in 2024.

In addition to these achievements, TravelAbility also introduced several pilot programs in 2023, such as:

  • Academic Accessibility Learning module, an online course that uses the Accessibility Playbook to teach hospitality students about accessibility. The course was offered by the Rosen College of Hospitality Management and received such positive feedback from the 800 enrolled students that it will become a graduation requirement for all 3000 students in the future. This program aims to change the way hotels treat and welcome guests with disabilities.
  • Rethinking Accessibility, a turnkey program that helps destinations discover and highlight their existing accessibility features. The program involved five destinations and revealed 210 new accessibility features that can attract and accommodate travelers with disabilities.
  • Visit Tampa Accessible Riverwalk Pass, a discount attraction pass that offers access to the most popular and accessible attractions along the Tampa Riverwalk. The pass sold over 1900 tickets and generated $109k in sales in two months.
  • Introduced the Visit Florida/Wheel the World (WTW) coop program, in which WTW accessibility features in 30 locations in three Florida destinations where the state covered 50% of the costs.  The program was offered to all DMO’s in Florida at their annual industry conference and has been expanded to 14 destinations in the state.

TravelAbility is excited to continue its mission of growing accessibility in 2024 and beyond. For more information, visit www.travelability.net.

TravelAbility Welcomes Eight New Advisory Board Members

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As evident from this jam-packed newsletter, TravelAbility is growing. In addition to launching new partnerships and initiatives, we are broadening and deepening our leadership by expanding our advisory board with a stellar group of executives, advocates, and industry insiders:

Suzanne Edwards, Head of Accessibility Standards, Airbnb. She is a wheelchair user and a surfer/para-athlete who will help Airbnb prepare for hosting Paralympians in 2024. Read more about Suzanne.

Curt Cottle, Senior Policy Advisor, National Tour and Travel Office (NTTO) . He represents the travel industry’s voice within the U.S. Department of Commerce. Read more about Curt.

Lesly Simmons,  Head of Community Innovation, Amazon. She is a pioneer in the event industry who created and curated impactful experiences for Amazon’s events division. Read more about Lesly.

Chris Collinson, Entrepreneur and Investor. He founded Connect and grew it into a strong leader in the meetings and events industry over 20 years, before retiring.  Read more about Chris.

Sophia Hyder Hoch, Chief Diversity Officer, Destinations International. She is our main contact as we work with DI to make accessibility available to all their 700+ destinations. Read more about Sophia.

Jason Holic, Sr. VP, Operations and Community Involvement/former politician, Experience Kissimmee. He has shown his ability to provide TravelAbility with insights on how to use data and creativity to motivate partners to adopt accessibility. Read more about Jason.

Alexander Hauerslev Jensen, Accessible Partnerships, Google, who helps create pathways to Google products that enhance the experiences of users with disabilities. Read more about Alexander

Rebcca Stair Gill,  VP Business Development, TravelAbility and publisher of Accessible Journeys.  She is a skilled marketer and builder of strategic, branded, social content partnerships. Read more about Rebecca.

View the full advisory board here.

Introduction to the Summit

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attendees at the The Emerging Markets Summit pose for a group photo with Founder Jake Steinman

By Jennifer Allen

“Feeling incredibly inspired and uplifted after attending the Travelabilty’s Emerging Markets Summit! The collective spirit and determination of the accessible community here has truly left me in awe… Every speaker, panelist, and attendee has brought their unique perspective and expertise to the table, fostering meaningful conversations and sparking innovative ideas. It’s evident that collaboration and cooperation are key to building a more inclusive travel industry. I’m leaving this conference with a renewed sense of purpose and a deep belief in the power of accessibility. Let’s continue to amplify the voices of those who have been marginalized, challenge the status quo, and create a world where travel knows no bounds.” 

This feedback from Lesly Palmer, of Pixie Travel, echoes the sentiments of attendees across travel industries at the 2023 Emerging Markets Summit. The summit included a wealth of information, from grant writing and technology breakthroughs, to accessibility travel research and guides on how to create change. 

The incomparable value of the summit comes from combining all of the elements for accessible travel in one place. The innovations; disability travel bloggers, who are really the detectives out to share the real scoop;  influencers; those with lived experiences; experts; and attendees all come together for a glorious three days of both education and support. The past five years have served as a foundation of trust, establishing not only TravelAbility, but also a community of like-minded world-changers.

The abundance of knowledge and innovation shared over the weekend couldn’t be covered in a single newsletter, but the following articles are a small sampling of the driving force for change that is the Travelability Summit.