TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

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LaunchPad: Curated Barrier-Breaking Ideas and Products available now or Coming Soon to the Phone in your Hand.

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Prior to the launch of TravelAbility I, like many people, mistakenly believed that the world of People with Disabilities (PwD) was one filled with dire pronouncements and woe, but the innovative solutions presented at Launchpad brought just the opposite by showing how much entrepreneurial energy and creativity is being directed at solutions that will help disabled travelers adapt to a world that has never been adaptable to them.

TravelAbility’s LaunchPad, was held virtually April 1st and featured 15 innovators selected following a review and vetting process that began back in June of 2020. 

One person I spoke with after the event even used the word “sexy,” to describe the products and, while that may have been a stretch, they were definitely cool and inspiring for me to see so many organizations working to help make travel easier for people with a variety of disabilities.

Each company made a 3-minute pitch to a panel of judges that represented members of the travel industry, the disability community as well as impact investors.

Kate Farbo, from Visit Lancaster, wrote in an e-mail: “I attended TravelAbility’s Launchpad and was really blown away. It was an incredible experience watching so many talented, intelligent and passionate people sharing their ideas to improve the world of accessible travel.”

This year’s judges included: Charles Hammerman, CEO of the Disability Opportunity Fund; Ron Pettit, Head of Accessibility, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines; Zach Curry, Director of Guest Experience and Accessiblity at Marriott; Toby Willis, Product Manager and president of accessibility club at Expedia; Jay Cardinali, former Head of Global Accessibility, Disney Parks and Resorts; Betty Adams, Head, Investment committee, Disability Investment Fund.

Srin Madipalli, former head of Accessibility for Airbnb, and now an angel investor in 16 start-ups, who founded the widely acclaimed Accessible Travel Club group on Facebook, served as our guest emcee and moderator.

JUDGES CHOICE.

1st Place  Vispero  JAWS Kiosk a, text to speech software than enable people who are blind or who have low vision to use self-service kiosks in airports, hotels and visitor centers. Presenter: Laura Miller, Corporate Business Development Manager

2nd Place: Mobi-Mat makes a slip-free rollout mat for beaches and uneven surfaces as well as floating wheelchairs for beach and pool use.  Presenters: Sandrine Carpenter-Bernard, CEO/Greg Scull, Area Sales Manager

3rd Place: SATS: Service Animal Travel Solutions. A one-stop central database for service animal verification recently launched with Alaska Airlines as their first airline partner. Presenter: Gina Emrich, Co-Founder

“This recognition of the JAWS Kiosk screen reader as the TravelAbility LaunchPad Judge’s Choice is a great sign of how the travel industry is embracing this tool for making their kiosks accessible for users with disabilities. We look forward to seeing more of the many accessible solutions featured in the LaunchPad event.” Matt Ater, Vice President of Business Development, Vispero.

You may view the 3-minute presentations here.

1st .This is Vispero

2nd. This is Mobi Mat

3rd. This is Service Animal Training Solutions

NEW THIS YEAR: PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS. This year we added the “People’s Choice” award, in which attendees were polled to name their favorite presentations.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE:

1st Place: Revolve Air Wheelchair.  A high-tech wheelchair that folds up to fit as airline carry-on. Andrea Mocellin, Founder

2nd Place: Alinker. A Walking Bike. A non-motorized “walking-bike” designed for people with mobility challenges has evolved into a wellness ecosystem that includes Alinker yoga classes, nutrition programs and is supplemented by a produce farm in Kentucky that employs disabled workers. Presenter: BE ALink, Founder

3rd Place: Omeo Technologies. Hands-free electric wheelchair that uses Active Seat Control technology user’s core muscles to control movement.  Presenter: Spring Adamo, North American Representative

These are their 3 minute presentations

1st. This is Revolve Air Wheelchair

2nd.This is ALinker.

3rd. This is the Omeo Wheelchair

“Winning the people’s choice award gives me the incentive to keep working with this amazing network to advance technology and user experience for active wheelchair users.” Andrea Mocellini, Founder, Revolve.

While the judges selected innovations based on their practical applicability for travel industry suppliers along the chain of travel, attendee choices tended to mostly benefit users.  In the end, it was a reflection of the best of both worlds.

LAUNCHPAD RECORDING AVAILABLE:

For those who were not able to attend, the full four-hour recording can be purchased from our website here for $49 until May 15. 

REGISTER FOR the second session of TravelAbilty 2021 “The (Rocky) Road to Recovery” to be held on JUNE 24th.  A conversational format that includes briefs from Google, Disney, Marriott, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and 14 others.  See the Agenda here. 

Finally, I would like to thank my wonderful team of Katie Philson and Tricia Roth, both of whom helped produce the first TravelAbility Summit in San Francisco, and Laura Erskine, a former television news producer who helped coordinate the videos so that the technical glitches were kept to a minimum.

Jake Steinman

Highlights and Insights from 2020 Market Study of Adults with Disabilities

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Two adults using mobility scooters on a sidewalk.

Now in its 4th edition, The Disability Travel Marketing Study 2020, produced by Open Doors Organization (ODO) and The Harris Poll, is the only nationwide survey of the travel patterns and expenditures of American adult travelers with disabilities. The 2020 Study benchmarks the 2018-19 period when this market segment reached new heights and includes the following highlights.

11 key findings from the 2020 ODO Market Study that can help build a business case for accessible travel

  1. 70% of have taken at least at least one trip — (37% outside US–28% in 2015)
  2. 84% Stayed in paid accommodations (hotels/home rentals (76% in 2015) 
  3. 55%: took at least one trip by air. (43% in 2015)
  4. The median age of disabled adult traveler: 62 (57 in 2015)
  5. Travel spend: $57 billion on their own travel ($34bn in 2015)
  6. Travel with companion: 69% Average party size: 2.9
  7. Travel with organized group 5% (2% in 2015)
  8. Rented a car or van: 40% (26% in 2015)
  9. Post Covid: 91% plan to travel once restrictions are lifted; 10% will travel immediately
  10. Requests for wheelchair assistance at U.S. airports has increased 17% YoY since 2015
  11. U.S. Regions traveled in past 5 years: West: 45%, Midwest: 20%, East: 32%, South: 57%.

The full 78 page report also includes insights about:

  • Trip Planning: How booked travel
  • Resources to research travel
  • Top in-destination activities
  • Breakdown of disability type
  • Top barriers they face at each step of the travel experience.

Our Takeaways:

  • The center of the disabled traveler audience is a senior citizen who is 62 years old (47% are retired and 57% have aged into a mild or moderately severe disability.)
  • Compared to the 2015 report, disabled travelers traveled more frequently and spent 68% more than the earlier study and 2017 was a breakthrough year for air travel as request for wheelchair assistance skyrocketed 30% from 2016-2017
  • The most popular region for travel has been the South, where 57% of survey respondents traveled during the past five years.

A copy of the full report is included FREE with each $695 VIP registration to the 2021 TravelAbility Summit. To register, or for more information, click here. The complete 78-page report may be purchased from Open Doors Organization for $560.

Disabled People Speak Out About Accessible Travel — Here’s What They Said (and what they’re looking for)

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Wheelchair user at the beach.

John Morris, founder of Wheelchair Travel and a member of the TravelAbility Advisory Board, recently published the results of a wide-ranging survey he conducted on accessible travel. Referenced by Expedia’s “Breaking Down Barriers to Travel Report,” Wheelchair Travel’s 2020 Accessible Travel Study included more than 700 participants, 90% of whom have a disability of their own.

The survey sought to better understand the travel patterns of disabled people, and to identify ways that travel providers could better serve those who have accessibility needs.

An important finding that destinations should pay particular attention to found that 81% of disabled travelers said that accessibility was an important factor in selecting a vacation destination. 50% said it was the “most important” consideration.

The report referenced TravelAbility’s campaign to promote the development of Accessible Travel Landing Pages on CVB and DMO websites. When asked to identify which types of information should appear on those pages, 84% said accessible lodging, 74% said accessible restaurants and 73% said accessible museums and attractions.

OUR TAKE: As the study reveals, there is tremendous opportunity for destinations to attract disabled visitors – 87% of whom travel with at least one other person. With the pent-up demand for travel, extending a welcome mat to disabled people can be an important revenue-driver in the post-pandemic recovery.

To read the full study, click here.

Expedia and Leonard Cheshire Release “Breaking Down Barriers to Travel” Report

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Wheelchair user toasting with friends.

Disability charity Leonard Cheshire and Expedia Group, one of the world’s largest online travel agencies, joined to produce the “Breaking Down Barriers to Travel” report. The report provides a roadmap for the travel industry to be more inclusive – with four recommendations for achieving that goal:

  • Design experiences (such as using an airport or hotel) to be barrier-free
  • Make all information clear
  • Provide inclusive customer service
  • Include disabled people in design and decision-making

The report shares a number of case studies to reveal how travel providers have approached the challenge of creating accessible travel products and services.

Michael Davis Velasco, Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at Expedia Group, said “We know that travel isn’t always easy, but by sharing insights and best practices believe that together with our partner and peers, we have the opportunity and responsibility to create frictionless travel for people with disabilities.”

To read the full report, click here (PDF).

Radical New Ideas for Flying Post Covid-19

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a couple who are asian wearing masks heading to a baggage claim

Better leave some extra time before you board that flight. NPR’s Marketplace explores what systems may be in place to protect you and your fellow passengers when flying takes off again. Read more.