TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Travel Industry People

Accessibility Superstars: Celebrating Champions of Inclusive Travel

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As the Accessibility Superstars Awards enter their second year, TravelAbility recognizes some of the brightest innovators in the travel industry. The TravelAbility Superstars Awards celebrate those who are not just leading in their field but are also pioneering efforts to make travel more inclusive and accessible for everyone.

These awards honor the forward-thinkers who are making it possible for travelers of all abilities to experience the world with greater ease, dignity, and joy. 

This year’s honorees exemplify what it means to be champions of accessibility, demonstrating how dedication and creativity can transform challenges into opportunities. From reimagining travel experiences to advocating for inclusive policies, they inspire us all to envision a future where every journey is seamless, enriching, and welcoming for all abilities.

Please congratulate this year’s TravelAbility Superstars as we honor their achievements and learn from their transformative contributions to the world of travel.

Ron Kuzon, The Schoolhouse Hotel

Ron Kuzon is the new owner of The Schoolhouse Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, where he plans to transform the historic site into an accessible destination campus. With a background in securities law and a passion for disability rights, Ron combines legal expertise and business experience in the disability industry. He and his partners purchased the hotel in 2024 from Charlie and Nanci Hammerman of the Disability Opportunity Fund. Ron’s vision includes accessible accommodations, shopping, dining, and performing arts. His plans for renovations aim to make White Sulphur Springs a global destination for accessible travel. Committed to inclusivity, Ron focuses on seamless experiences for guests with sensory, cognitive, and mobility challenges. He also aims to revitalize the town by boosting local businesses, creating jobs, and enriching the community with new cultural offerings.

Ron Pettit, Royal Caribbean Group

Ron Pettit is a global leader in disability inclusion, known for his innovative approach to accessibility and creating inclusive environments. As head of Disability Inclusion at Royal Caribbean, he developed the world’s only global cruise program for the autism market, reaching 75 million people worldwide. His work has earned him recognition as a leading advocate for disability rights in the corporate world. Ron has a track record of driving large-scale initiatives, influencing senior leadership, and fostering organizational engagement in disability inclusion. He is also a dedicated mentor and passionate spokesperson, inspiring change within Royal Caribbean and beyond. Through his efforts, Ron shows that accessibility is key to building a more inclusive world.

Cassie Ivey, Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau

Cassie Ivey is the Director of Visitor and Community Engagement for the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau (CACVB), where she works in strengthening the connection between the local community and visitors. With a great passion for showcasing the 

region’s rich history and culture, Cassie leads efforts to enhance visitor experiences while supporting locals and sustainable tourism practices.She collaborates with local businesses, organizations, and residents to create impactful initiatives that promote both tourism and community development. Through her work, Cassie helps ensure that Charlottesville and Albemarle County remain top destinations, fostering an inclusive and thriving tourism environment for both visitors and locals.

Kevin Wright, Travel Oregon

Kevin Wright is the Vice President of Brand Stewardship at Travel Oregon, where he leads strategic initiatives to enhance the state’s visibility as a premier travel destination.  Kevin is responsible for developing and executing the market awareness strategy, overseeing branding, advertising, promotion, and sales outcomes to support Travel Oregon’s mission. He also manages talent, budgets, and collaborates with industry organizations to advise local communities and businesses. Kevin also serves on the advisory board for Travelability, focused on making travel more accessible. Kevin continues to elevate Oregon’s presence in the travel industry while creating partnerships that benefit the state’s tourism economy.

Accessibility Champion: Brett Laiken

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Chief Marketing Officer, Visit Florida

Note: This interview is part of an ongoing series featuring interviews with 24 Champions of Accessibility for 2024 selected and celebrated by TravelAbility.

Q: When did you begin focusing on accessibility in your destination and what was the impetus for wanting to make your destination more accessible?

We don’t have a tipping point where we decided we needed to start focusing on accessibility – it’s just continued to grow organically. 

We’ve been inspired by real travelers and we use real families for our marketing. That said, we did launch a series, Limitless Florida, three years ago. Limitless Florida is a video series that shares the story of Floridians with different abilities and shows how Florida offers them and their families the experiences they’re looking for.

Q: What are your main responsibilities and tasks in your organization?


I am the CMO for VISIT FLORIDA and I oversee all marketing activity for the organization. This includes ensuring collaboration across various disciplines to align on messaging and focus.

Q: Aside from budget, what are the most difficult obstacles or barriers that you face regarding the advancement of accessibility in your destination? What initiatives have you undertaken to improve accessibility in your destination, and which are you most proud of?

With a state the size of Florida, there are vast differences between regions.As such, there are also differences in offerings. We lean into each individual destination’s ability to support those with different abilities. 

We launched a partnership with Wheel the World with VISIT FLORIDA covering 50% of the destination audit. We did this to remove any potential budgetary obstacles and to improve the statewide promotion of accessibility. Additionally, we have hosted numerous webinars to educate partners on how to be the most accessible destination, business, attraction, etc. 

Q: Who do you follow? Name an organization/company/individual you look to for ideas or inspiration. 

Since our partnership has been built with Wheel the World, I follow them to see how they are trailblazing a path for others to follow. They share content from content creators who are real people they work with, such as Curb Free Cory, who showcase their travel journey throughout Florida. I also follow Florida visitors to see what they are enjoying in our state. Our team then looks for ways to share these same experiences with those who have different abilities.

Q: What are your plans around accessibility in 2024/2025?

We will continue to promote accessible adventure in our marketing while also continuing to partner with our DMOs to provide educational opportunities along the way. A new effort for this coming year is a greater emphasis on educating travel agents on accessibility in Florida, so that they can be our ambassadors.

Congratulations to Kelly Wolgamott of Pure Michigan!

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By Jennifer Allen

Congratulations to Kelly Wolgamott on her well-deserved promotion to Vice President of Pure Michigan! With over a decade of experience leading Michigan’s travel marketing efforts, Kelly has been instrumental in shaping the success of the iconic Pure Michigan campaign. Her dedication and marketing expertise have not only enhanced Michigan’s reputation as a top travel destination but have also significantly contributed to the state’s broader economic growth. 

“Kelly’s talents, personal commitment, wealth of industry knowledge and marketing expertise position her to advance Michigan’s efforts to promote our state as the top four-season destination for travelers across the country and around the world,” said MEDC CEO, Quentin L. Messer, Jr.”

We’re excited to see how Kelly’s vision, direction, and commitment to inclusion will continue to elevate Pure Michigan.

Read more about Kelly’s new role, here.

Welcoming Lynn Osmond, Former Chicago CVB Joins TravelAbility Advisory Board

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By Jennifer Allen

Lynn Osmond joins the TravelAbility Board with a unique combination of industry leadership and personal experience as a caregiver. Her background, both as the former President and CEO of the Chicago Architecture Center and Choose Chicago, and as someone who has navigated travel with a spouse who has a disability, makes her an invaluable asset.

Lynn’s personal journey in accessibility began when her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2015, followed by Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a more advanced condition.

Jennifer Allen

A Personal Connection to Accessibility

Lynn’s personal journey in accessibility began when her husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2015, followed by Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a more advanced condition. Resigning from her work earlier this year to spend time traveling to destinations on her husband’s bucket list, gave her the lived experience of becoming the caregiver in charge of researching, booking and troubleshooting the invariable challenges that arise. 

“We’re honored to have Lynn join our advisory board,” remarked Jake Steinman, founder of Travelability. “Lynn will lead a panel of companions and caregivers at our Summit in San Francisco that will explore ways that destinations can help make their travel experience more like a vacation and less like work.”

“Accessibility isn’t one-size-fits-all,” she says, reflecting on her experiences. Something as simple as restrooms became a daily challenge, particularly when trying to assist her husband. Family restrooms, for instance, were a game changer—yet they’re not consistently available. So far, they’ve traveled to Panama, Route 66, Mount Rushmore, Canada and they recently returned from a Viking River Cruise through France. 

Experience in Leadership and Accessibility

For over two decades, Lynn led the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC), transforming it into a globally recognized institution. The river cruise, which was voted the best boat tour in North America, was one of her flagship projects.

After that, Lynn became the first woman President and CEO of Choose Chicago, the city’s official destination marketing organization (DMO.

Actionable Insights for the Travel Industry

Lynn’s experiences offer key takeaways for DMOs, hotels, and travel-related organizations:

  1. Engage Local Disability Advocacy Groups: Lynn emphasizes the value of reaching out to these groups to gain insights into what accessible travel means on the ground. Beyond awareness, these groups can help uncover funding opportunities and grant options that support accessibility initiatives.
  2. Show You Care: Lynn recounts a standout moment from a road trip to Mount Rushmore, where a Marriott representative in Souix City IA, repeatedly checked in to ensure that every aspect of the trip would meet their specific needs. This level of personalized service is key to building loyalty and trust among travelers with disabilities.
  3. Rethink Hotel Layouts: Surprisingly, older motels along Route 66, with ground-floor rooms and direct parking access, proved to be more convenient than many high-end hotels. Lynn points out that modern hotel designs often place accessible rooms far from elevators, creating unnecessary difficulties for guests with disabilities.
  4. Create a Handicap Hotline: Instead of assuming that a wheelchair-accessible room will meet every traveler’s needs, Lynn suggests that hotels and DMOs set up dedicated phone lines or booking systems where guests can specify exactly what accommodations they require, whether it’s visual, auditory, or mobility-related.

Instead of assuming that a wheelchair-accessible room will meet every traveler’s needs, Lynn suggests that hotels and DMOs set up dedicated phone lines or booking systems where guests can specify exactly what accommodations they require, whether it’s visual, auditory, or mobility-related.

Jennifer Allen

Where’s the Money?

Lynn is a strong advocate for positioning accessibility not as a checkbox or compliance issue, but as a business strategy. She notes that travelers with disabilities represent a growing segment, especially with the aging baby boomer population. Catering to this market is not just about inclusivity; it’s about meeting demand.

Recent research conducted by Longwoods International, revealed that 17% of American travelers in 2023 had someone in their party that required accessibility services. “That number will only increase,” Lynn explains. “For organizations that prioritize accessibility, this represents a significant opportunity for economic growth.”

Advice for her fellow DMO Executives.

Lynn encourages DMOs to develop a clear, actionable accessibility strategy. This can start with:

  1. Engage Local Advocacy Groups. Collaborating with local disability groups and advocates by involving them in annual tourism meetings, where they can share their insights, experiences and help identify accessible features. They can also be valuable in partnering for grant applications.
  2. Gather Accessibility Features: Survey hotels, attractions, transportation, and other services to gather accurate data on what accessibility features are already in place. This can inform not just improvements, but also marketing and SEO strategies by ensuring that accessible options are easy to find on websites.
  3. Updating Website Information: Lynn advises DMOs to include specific details, such as bed heights, shower rails, and the layout of accessible rooms. “Just listing a room as ADA-compliant isn’t enough,” she says. Detailed descriptions and measurement help travelers make informed choices.

Looking Ahead: A Vision for Accessible Travel

“Too often, people with disabilities limit their travel because of fear—fear of the unknown, of facing barriers,” she says. But with thoughtful planning and a commitment to accessibility, those barriers can be overcome, opening a world of possibilities.  

Lynn advises DMOs to include specific details, such as bed heights, shower rails, and the layout of accessible rooms. “Just listing a room as ADA-compliant isn’t enough,” she says. Detailed descriptions and measurement help travelers make informed choices.

Jennifer Allen

Credit Card Scams and Jake Steinman: Changing the World of Accessible Travel

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Congratulations, Jake, on this well-deserved recognition! Who knew a credit card scam would change the face of accessible travel? Your work with Travelability and the Accessibility Playbook cannot be overestimated for the impact they have on tourism in 2024.

Here’s the link to the article in Northstar Meetings Magazine.