TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

Travel Industry People

Introducing TravelAbility Fellows Lauren Badolato and Ellie Satkin

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Please welcome Lauren Badolato and Ellie Satkin, the newest additions to the TravelAbility team!

The TravelAbility fellowship provides the opportunity to meet university internship requirements, while making a real difference in the world of inclusion through marketing. The interns are already working behind the scenes on all things TravelAbility – from event planning for the Emerging Markets Summit to designing this newsletter.

Lauren Badolato

Lauren Badolato

Lauren is a single mom to two children, ages six and eight, with disabilities. Originally from Brooklyn, she now lives in Orlando as a graduate of Valencia College. She’s been around the hospitality industry since she was a child, but the merge of hospitality and inclusion became a priority when her second son was born with a rare genetic disorder. Having a son who may never walk has changed the way she experiences travel, and has fueled a passion for creating a barrier-free travel experience.

As part of a college internship course, she was able to observe a mock interview of a Rosen Hospitality student with Wheel the World. She connected to the cause immediately because of her own struggles in hotels with her son. As a constant advocate, working to raise awareness for a variety of her son’s 42 diagnoses, TravelAbility made the perfect next step for linking passion, purpose, and profession.

Ellie Satkin

Ellie is a business student at San Diego State University, entering her junior year. As a business major and Hot Yoga instructor, her goal is to work with people in health and wellness. She was looking for virtual internships for location flexibility when family ties uncovered the perfect marketing internship through TravelAbility. 

Working with TravelAbility has been an eye opening experience that is impacting every area of Ellie’s life. During her training as a yoga instructor she learned about adapting experiences for the different abilities of students she would encounter – from pregnant women to diabetics, but she had no idea just how wide and diverse that range was. She says she’s growing in awareness in a way that she can bring into other circles of life – from adaptive yoga to recognizing accessibility barriers on her own college campus. Inclusion has taken on new meaning as she works to make it a reality.

Accessibility Champion: Patrick Harrison

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Visit Tampa Bay Names Chief Operating, Marketing Officers

Marketing Director, Visit Tampa Bay

Q1. When did you begin focusing on accessibility in your destination and what was the impetus for wanting to make your destination more accessible?

Visit Tampa Bay began intensifying its focus on accessibility as part of a broader inclusivity initiative, which recognized the growing need and ethical imperative to serve all travelers, regardless of their physical abilities. This commitment was further motivated by the understanding that improving accessibility not only benefits travelers with disabilities but also enhances the overall visitor experience, which makes  the destination more welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.

Q2. What are your main responsibilities and tasks in your organization?

Working with a dedicated internal team and external representatives and agencies, I direct all marketing and communications channels including advertising, public relations, branding, activations, targeted niche campaigns and creative out-of-the-box ideas.  Additionally, I oversee our leisure sales team and work closely with our partnership and convention sales team to ensure brand integrity and consistency.

Q3. 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?

One of the primary challenges in advancing accessibility in Tampa Bay is transforming the mindset of local stakeholders and partners. Too often, accessibility is seen merely as an ADA compliance issue rather than a broader commitment to inclusivity and enhancing the guest experience. At Visit Tampa Bay, we aim to lead by example, demonstrating successful accessible initiatives and sharing findings and best practices with our partners.

A critical early step was the appointment of Jamie Santillo as an accessibility ambassador to Visit Tampa Bay. As a local travel agent with a disability, Jaime brought a valuable perspective, ensuring that our accessibility efforts were not only well-informed but also genuinely reflective of the needs of travelers with disabilities. Her appearance in an accessibility video, along with her Tampa Bay itineraries, underscores the importance of getting input from the community on the initiatives aimed to serve. We are proud to showcase her as an expert in creating inclusive travel experiences. In the past few years, Jamie’s own travel agency, Adventures by Jamie, has been voted a top travel agency in Florida and the Southeast. 

We showcase the value and impact of accessible tourism through pilot programs and strategic partnerships, demonstrating that thoughtful accessibility improvements lead to increased guest satisfaction and repeat visitation. We are particularly proud of our recent initiatives that collectively aim to position Tampa Bay as a leader in accessible tourism. 

Recent initiatives include:

  • EnChroma: We’ve introduced EnChroma glasses at key cultural venues like the Tampa Museum of Art and The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. These glasses allow visitors with red-green color blindness to see a broader spectrum of colors, enhancing their experience of the visual arts.
  • Wheel the World: Visit Tampa Bay was the first DMO in Florida to highlight accessible trips with Wheel the World. We are expanding this partnership to enhance accessibility at more hotels and tourist attractions.
  • AbleVu: We’re working to make Tampa Bay the first “AbleVu Accessible City” in Florida by enhancing accessibility at a variety of partner businesses, including attractions, hotels, and dining establishments.

By sharing the successes of these initiatives, we position ourselves as a model for others in the hospitality and tourism industry, advocating for a more inclusive approach that benefits all visitors.

“Too often, accessibility is seen merely as an ADA compliance issue rather than a broader commitment to inclusivity and enhancing the guest experience.”

Q4. Who do you follow? Name an organization/company/individual you look to for ideas or inspiration.

Visit Tampa Bay often looks to Destinations International, specifically their Social Inclusion program, for ideas and inspiration. Destinations International has established itself as a leader in advancing equity and inclusion within the tourism industry, providing a framework that helps destinations like Tampa Bay develop more inclusive practices. By aligning with forward-thinking frameworks and incorporating their recommendations, Visit Tampa Bay continues to reinforce its commitment to being a leader in accessible travel and tourism.  

Q5. What are your plans around accessibility in 2024?

In 2024, Visit Tampa Bay plans to further enhance accessibility through several strategic initiatives:

  • Expansion: Extending accessibility training to improve service delivery across the board. We are also expanding our listings on sites such as Wheel the World, showing off the destination’s accessible offerings.
  • Technology Integration: We are leveraging technology to create more accessible online resources, including virtual tours and interactive guides that are ADA-compliant. We continue to elevate our landing page.

Enhanced Community Engagement: Increasing engagement with local disability advocacy groups to ensure their input and feedback are integral to accessibility initiatives in development. Working closely with county and city officials to be sure that we are highlighting all of the work done in our community.

Becka Stair Gill Joins TravelAbility’s Management

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Sausalito, CA — April 20, 2024 — TravelAbility, a leading advocate for accessibility, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Becka Stair Gill, as the newest member of its management team. Becka will serve as Vice President of Accessibility Marketing and brings her wealth of expertise to drive impactful initiatives for TravelAbility partners and sponsors.

Becka Gill is a seasoned multi-channel media marketer with over 20 years of experience providing planning, strategy and execution of media, social marketing and partnerships for brands such as AARP and Sports Illustrated. Her passion lies in creating strategic programs branded content partnerships that resonate with diverse audiences.

Jake Steinman, Founder of TravelAbility, shared his insights on Becka’s appointment: “Becka’s experience in marketing will enable TravelAbility partners to shape the value of their services to people with disabilities; and as baby boomers begin aging into a disability, her years of experience with AARP will be invaluable.”

TravelAbility is committed to fostering an inclusive travel ecosystem where everyone can explore the world without barriers. By leveraging Becka’s insights and marketing skills TravelAbility aims to accelerate positive change and enhance travel experiences for all.

“It’s my privilege and honor to work with TravelAbility to leverage positive advocacy for such an underserved community, it’s beyond rewarding!”

About TravelAbility: TravelAbility is a global platform dedicated to advancing accessibility in travel and tourism. Our mission is to empower travelers, businesses, and destinations to create a more inclusive world. Learn more about us here.

Accessibility Champion: Alan Fyall

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Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Head shot of Dr. Alan Fyall

“The experience enables our students to really come to grips with the opportunities and challenges of accessible travel in their workplace.”

Q1. What motivated you to become involved in accessibility and do you have a personal connection to disability?

My first engagement with accessibility in travel was through work with colleagues in the U.K. exploring ways in which destinations could/should become more dementia-friendly. This experience inspired me ask many questions here in the U.S. about what is being done and with what level of success. In many ways, I was pleasantly surprised at the energy driving the accessibility agenda in travel, with most people driven by a personal connection to disability–including me. My teenage years were heavily shaped by severe scoliosis and the need to wear a “Boston Brace” 23 hours a day. Although not classified as disabled, my restricted movement caused by the brace opened my eyes to what other people less fortunate than me were experiencing. That generated in me a deep empathy for people with disabilities and the need to create an environment as supportive as possible so that they could lead meaningful and productive lives.

Q2.  What is the goal of your organization?

As a college, our goal is to “educate and develop future generations of global hospitality leaders through innovative programs, knowledge creation through research, and dynamic worldwide industry and community partnerships”. Through our extensive internship program, every student on campus is obliged to complete a module on travel accessibility. This module builds on their classroom knowledge and introduces them to the core lessons of the TravelAbility Playbook in their in-person, industry internship environment! Rather than being a textbook exercise, the experience enables our students to really come to grips with the opportunities and challenges of accessible travel in their workplace. Our students have also started to complete accessibility assessments with Wheel The World. They are getting an inside look at the work that underpins their success of one of the most comprehensive providers of accessible travel experiences in the world.

Q3: Aside from budget, what are the most difficult obstacles or barriers you face around accessibility and what actions/initiatives are you taking to address them?

The biggest obstacle is the size of the travel industry itself and the sheer number of stakeholders to engage and educate! TravelAbility is doing an amazing job in spreading the word with the Federal Government pushing the need for the industry to address the three pillars of accessible travel, namely: accessible facilities; accessible customer service; accessibility information. From a place perspective, Destinations International are leading the charge with accessibility as a key component of their social impact agenda while Visit Florida have set a laudable goal for Florida to be the most accessible state by 2030!

Q4. What accomplishments are you most proud of?

Although we remain at the beginning of our journey of introducing our students to accessible travel, to date more than 1,000 have completed their accessible travel module and so have the necessary foundational knowledge to be accessible changemakers of the future.

Q5: Who do you follow?  Name an organization/company/individual you look to for ideas or inspiration. 

For 100% inspiration I follow Cory Lee, “curbfreecorylee”. His incredible journeys around the world just prove what can be achieved with single-minded determination to enjoy life to the full, no matter what the challenge or impairment. This also holds true for Alvaro Silberstein who out of personal adversity formed Wheel The World, which is changing lives in the space of accessible travel!

Accessibility Champion: Charles Hammerman

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President and CEO, Disability Opportunity Fund

Head shot of Charles Hammerman

“The Schoolhouse Hotel is the first full-service boutique in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and the first all-ADA compliant hotel in the world.”

Q1.  What motivated you to become involved in accessibility and do you have a personal connection to disability?

I am a former Merrill Lynch professional and former Assistant United States Attorney as well as being the father of a child with cerebral palsy, I launched The Disability Opportunity Fund in 2007. It is a national nonprofit  that provides financing, technical services, and advocacy to increase access to appropriate and affordable housing and related services for people with disabilities. The fund was incubated under the umbrella of the Burton Blatt Institute of Syracuse University, named after my late uncle who was a pioneering disability researcher and advocate.

Q2.  What is the goal of your organization?

As a Nationally Certified CDFI, DOF’s mission is to provide financial products, technical assistance, equity investment and financial advisory services that improve the quality of life and build personal wealth for people with disabilities and their families, as well as supporting organizations serving this market.

 Q4. What accomplishments are you most proud of?

The Schoolhouse Hotel is the first full-service boutique in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and the first all-ADA compliant hotel in the world. We transformed the historic White Sulphur Springs schoolhouse into a hub for the community and visitors alike. The hotel features 30 uniquely appointed guest rooms and suites; the Varsity Club restaurant/grill; the Rooftop Bar serving small plates and cocktails in the open air before stunning mountain views; and flexible ballroom and meeting space for weddings, conferences, and other events.  We believe The Schoolhouse Hotel showcases the best of West Virginia hospitality and lodging in a completely inclusive atmosphere.

Q3: What are the most difficult obstacles or barriers you face around accessibility and what actions/initiatives are you taking to address them?

The question is not really applicable to our work. The Schoolhouse Hotel is fully accessible and addresses the needs of our guests. We are very proud of being an example to other hospitality operators to also be inclusive.

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

We follow accelerators focused on disabilities like Multiple https://www.multiplehub.org/ and Enabled Ventures https://www.enableventures.vc/