Agenda

Friday, August 18

8:30 – 10:30 am

Accessing Grant Funding for Developing Accessibility Infrastructure and Product

A special pre-conference workshop focused on how DMO’s can take the lead by funding accessible assessments and training to provide inclusive infrastructure for both visitors and residents. There are millions in grant funds available through the American Rescue Plan Act, transportation, infrastructure, and tourism recovery programs. Destinations marketing organizations are reporting success in winning these grants as they benefit residents as well as, and even more than, visitors. Topics to include:

  • How to best determine if you qualify for a grant.
  • Three travel organizations discuss their experience in applying for, winning and follow-up KPI’s that were required.
  • What is the best use for these grants?
  • How to develop a DIY assessment program.
  • Tips and Tricks for grant writing.

Speakers

Grant Funders:

  • Kelly Wolgamott, Director of Marketing, Travel Michigan
  • Kevin Wright, VP Marketing, Travel Oregon

Grant Recipients/Grant Writers:

  • Patrick Lennon, Director of Marketing, Visit Fairfax
  • Courtney Cacatian, Executive Director, Charlottesville/Albemarle CVB
  • Kimberly Danesi, CTA, Interim CEO, Galveston Park Board
  • Camilo Navarro, Co-Founder, Wheel the World
  • Kristine McConnel, Vist Central Oregon

Moderator:

  • Kristi Durso

10:30 – 11:30 am

How We Design and Implement Accessibility Assessments

What Wheel the World has learned from conducting accessibility assessments in over 2000 hotels in 120 cities around the world.

Speakers

  • Kimberly Danesi, CTA,Interim CEO,Galveston Park Board
  • Camilo Navarro & Alvaro Slberstein, Co-Founder,s Wheel the World
  • John Sage, Founder & CEO, Sage Inclusion
  • Craig Kennedy, Program Director, Open Doors Organization

10:30 – 11:00 am

(Concurrent Session)

FILLING THE INFORMATION GAP: There’s an ADA for physical infrastructure for people with disabilities, but there’s no ADA for information.

FILLING THE INFORMATION GAP: There’s an ADA for physical infrastructure for people with disabilities, but there’s no ADA for information.

  • Overview of Digital Accessibility
  • Why it’s important for Destination websites
  • Overlays with assistance
  • DIY overlay and remediation tools for developers
  • Content accessibility best practices. What is content accessibility? Examples of Excellence in Landing Pages.

Speakers

  • Luke Johnson, Simpleview with Audio Eye
  • Jason McKee, Perspective Tester

10:30 – 11:30 am

 

Best Practices in Accessible Content Landing Pages

Speakers

  • Jake Steinman, Founder and CEO, TravelAbility
  • Partick Lennon

11:30 – 12:45 pm

Lunch On Own

Enjoy lunch on your own. 

12:45 – 1:00 pm

Opening Remarks

Speaker

  • Jake Steinman, Founder and CEO, TravelAbility

1:00 – 2:04 pm

InnovateABLE Showcase

We have invited a curated group of innovations,technology and services that can advance accessibility, sustainability and DE&I to deliver a 3-minute pitch followed by a 7-minute Q&A.

1:00 – 1:10 PM
TranslateLive

Provides closed captioning, live captioning, translation, audio description, accessibility compliance.

Presenter: Peter Hayes, TranslateLive

1:11 – 1:21 PM
Picture Live

People with a visual or hearing impairment can also enjoy a walk through the historic center of Ghent. A booklet with tactile plates, audio descriptions and sign language give them an idea of the sights and information that they would otherwise not be able to see or hear. They are currently available in Flemish and English versions at Visit Ghent.

Presenter: Alain Cloet, Founder, Picture Live

1:22 – 1:32 PM
Senior Travel Companion Service

Senior Travel Companion Services brings customized trip planning and travel escort services to individual seniors and couples around the world. With 40 years of caregiving, 27 years of professional fiduciary experience, and more than 110 trips successfully executed

Presenter: Carol Giuliani, Founder

1:33 – 1:43 PM
Grit Freedom Chair

Designed by MIT engineers, the GRIT Freedom Chair is a mix between a manual wheelchair and a mountain bike.Thousands of riders around the world use their GRIT Freedom Chairs to live more active lives— hiking on mountain trails, navigating sandy beaches, or just spending quality time with their family.

Presenter: Derek Sanchez

1:44 – 1:54 PM
Enchroma

Glasses that enable people with color blindness to see vibrant colors.

Presenter: Kent Streeb

1:54 – 2:04 PM
My Stream

MyStream improves wireless connections and unlocks new accessibility services on existing smart devices, both online and offline. MyStream can enable live HD audio to be streamed right to attendees’ own devices and hearing-aids in theaters and cinemas; seamlessly deliver video and other accessibility content in museums and visitor-centers even if visitors’ devices are offline, and more.

Presenter: Richard Zelson

2:05 – 2:30 pm

Would You Rather Be Ahead of The Curve or Behind the 8-Ball?

This session explores the benefits and drawbacks of being proactive versus reactive in decision-making and problem-solving. We will also discuss the importance of staying up-to-date with trends and how they can impact decision-making.

Speakers

  • Jake Steinman, Founder, TravelAbility
  • Greg DeShields, President and CEO, Tourism Diversity Matters
  • Andrew Leary, Director of Partnerships, Leave No Trace

 

2:30 – 2:50 pm

A Goal Without a Plan is Just a Dream

How to get started: What your plan should include,Who should contribute to planning?Tackle budgeting and KPI’s/ Jaime Hart: How di d the bureau come about focusing on accessibility?what di dyou budget? what is the end goal?

Speakers

  • Ed Harris, CEO, Discover Lancaster
  • Jamie Hart, Director, Integrated Marketing, Discover the Palm Beaches

2:50 – 3:10 pm

Wayfaring for Grownups: Age-friendly Design for the Mature Traveler

Join AARP to hear about older travelers’ upcoming vacation plans and their needs and wants from the industry. Pandemic travel worries are waning for these big spenders and travel is both their top aspiration and their top discretionary spending priority. And for many of the 50-plus, they have access needs due to an acquired disability that developed during their lifetime. According to the World Health Organization, “almost everyone will temporarily or permanently experience disability at some point in their life.” Learn to design in ways that best engage the mature traveler.

  • How seniors are travelling post COVID
  • What are seniors looking for in a post-COVID travel experience?
  • How to reach the aging traveler
  • Is senior travel coming back to life?

Speaker

  • Patty David, Vice President, Consumer Insights, AARP

2:50 – 3:10 pm

(Concurrent Session)

Unique Ways to Measure ROI around Accessibility

Speakers

  • Alison Brooks
  • Zeke Coleman, VP Tourism Economics

3:10 – 3:50 pm

This Could Get Ugly! What’s the Worst Travel Experience You’ve Ever Had—and What’s the Best?

What’s improved, what hasn’t and what needs to change? We ask a panel of people with different disabilities about their most horrifying travel experiences and what can be done to rectify it. Also, what’s the best experience you’ve ever had.

Speakers

  • Cory Lee, Founder, Curb Free with Cory Lee
  • Tobi Willis, Sr. Product Manager, Expedia
  • Dan Tobin
  • Houston Vandergriff, Founder, Downs and Towns

Moderator: Kristy Durso

3:50 – 4:10 pm

Afternoon Break

4:10 – 4:30 pm

How Has Disability Travel Changed? 2021 vs. 2023: An Apples-to-Apples Comparison

This custom research conducted by Destination Analysts and Miles Partnership as part of Destination Analysts’ ongoing State of the American Traveler Insights research will provide the latest insights, attitudes, and needs of US travelers with disabilities in a post Covid environment.

Speaker:

Kim Palmer & August Erickson of Miles Partnership

4:30 – 5:10 pm

Show and Tell: Proactive Initiatives that Resulted from Last Year’s Event
  • 4:30 – 4:40 pm: Corralling an All-Volunteer Army to Conduct Accessibility Assessments
    • Cody Wiseman, Creative Marketing Manager, Visit Rapid City
  • 4:40 – 4:50 pm: Creating an Accessibility Crew
    • Arica Sears, Deputy Director, Oregon Coast Visitors Association
  • 4:50 – 5:00 pm: The Accessible Tampa Riverwalk Pass
    • Patrick Harrison, CMO, Visit Tampa Bay
  • 5:00 – 5:10 pm: How Lane County Stays in the Loop. Hearing Loops, that is.
    • Connor Nolan, Destination Development Manager, Travel Lane County

5:10 – 5:30 pm

What’s New with Accessibility at America’s Top Nude Beaches?

Last year we invited Shirley Mason, the former president of South Florida Free Beaches and founder of the word-famous Haulover clothing-optional beach on Miami Beach. This year, the beach founder and executive director of the most prominent international free beach advocacy organization — B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute, will once again provide an update and progress report on Haulover Beach, plus Blind Creek Beach.

Speaker:

  • Shirley Mason, Executive Director, B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Reception

Saturday, August 19

7:30 – 9:00 am

Breakfast

Breakfast

9:00 – 10:00 am

The Future of Hotels and Accessibility
  • 9:00 – 9:10 am: What Blind Guests Need from Hotels
    • Mike May, subject of “Crashing Through: The Extraordinary Story of the Man Who Dared to See”
  • 9:10 – 9:25 am: How Hospitality Management Colleges are Educating Future Hoteliers about Accessibility – Intro to PHD Students Doing Accessibility Study
    • Alan Fyall, Associate Dean Academic Affairs and Visit Orlando Endowed Chair of Tourism Marketing at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management
  • 9:25 – 9:35 am: What We’ve Learned from Assessing 200 Accessibility Data Points in Over 2,000 Hotels in 50 Countries
    • Camilo Navarro & Alvaro Silberstein, Co-Founders, Wheel the World
  • 9:35 – 9:45 am: How Airbnb is Making Travel More Inclusive for Travelers with Disabilities
    • Suzanne Edwards, Accessibility Lead, Airbnb
  • 9:45 – 10:00 am: Question and Answer

10:00 – 10:20 am

Let's Get Real: How to Make Accessible Content More Authentic

Recently, there’s been a fundamental cultural shift in disability representation in all forms of advertising and social media marketing.Inclusion without condescension.

  • Finding Talent: Should you find local models or use a disability talent agency?
  • Inclusive Advertising Excellence: Examples of great campaigns and content
  • How to conduct an annual audit of your advertising

Speaker:

  • Dr. Josh Loebner, Global Head of Inclusive Design, Wunderman Thompson

10:20 -10:50 am

Able-izing Your Visitor Center to be Inclusive for Everyone

A State Welcome Center or City Visitor Center is a logical place from which to make information available about accessibility features.

  • What should be available online?
  • What’s involved in training volunteer staff?
  • How to make kiosk information accessible for blind visitors.

Speaker:

  • Toni Bastian, Group Tour and Visitor Center Manager, Visit Richmond
  • Kevin Wright, VP Marketing, Travel Oregon

10:20 -10:50 am

(Concurrent Session)

Deep Dive: What Do Travelers On the Spectrum Need?

Speakers:

  • Meredith Tekin, President, IBCCES (moderator)
  • Becky Large, Founder Autism Travel Club
  • Lynn Smith, Hidden Disability Sunflower
  • Meegan Winters, Able VU

10:50 – 11:10 am

Morning Break

Morning Break

11:10 – 11:25 am

Has there been a Sea Change in Cruise Accessibility in the past Five Years?

Cruise vacations have proven to be one of the most reliable options for travelers with disabilities. Basically, floating cities with vast experience serving a mature clientele, they offer an abundance of accessible rooms and options for a range of disabilities. How are they adapting to post Covid challenges: workforce and shore excursion leader shortage, the advent of Virgin Voyages.

Speaker:

  • Ron Pettit, Executive Accessibility & Inclusion Officer, Royal Caribbean Group

11:25 – 12:10 pm

Leveraging the Insight of Influencers to Amplify Authenticity in Your Marketing

A panel of social media influencers gives their perspective on how their audience has changed.

Speakers:

  • Intellectual Disabilities
    • Houston Vandergriff, Founder, Downs and Towns
  • Wheelchair Travel
    • Cory Lee Woodard, Founder of Curb Free with Cory Lee
  • Scooter Travel
    • Chelsea Bear, Content Creator
  • Caregiver & Family
    • Jennifer Allen, Wonders Within Reach

12:10 – 12:30 pm

Partnering with Local Disability Organizations

The disability community has a simple manifesto: Nothing about us without us. There are 330 independent living centers throughout America and many of them would love to collaborate with tourism marketers to advance their goals. How tourism organizations can partner with disability entities such as yours as a resource. How are you funded? Do you have a member mailing list? Assistance in finding grants to fund accessibility that also benefits residents?

Speaker:

  • Neil Ligon, Executive Director, Living Independence for Everyone

12:30 – 2:00 pm

Lunch

1:15 – 1:45 pm

Luncheon Presentation: Changing the Culture of a State Around Accessibility

Over the past ten years Germany has built a reputation as the most accessible country in the world and Saxony, an eastern state that includes Dresden, has through ongoing education at a hyper granular level, become the most accessible state in Germany…and perhaps the world.

Speaker:

  • Antje Rennack, Product Manager, Saxony Tourism

2:00 – 2:40 pm

It’s All in the Family: The State of Autism Travel

In this session, we will discuss the current state of autism in travel, including the challenges faced by individuals with autism and their families when traveling, as well as the resources available to help make traveling easier. We will also explore the future of autism in travel and what steps are being taken to make travel more accessible for individuals with autism. Families with autism comprise a large group of potential travelers.

  • Why 85% of autism families don’t travel.
  • What can accommodation providers and attractions do to attract autism families?

Speakers:

  • Meredith Tekin, President, IBCCES
  • Stuart Butler, CMO, Visit Myrtle Beach
  • Lynn Smith, Regional Director, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower
  • Julie Pingston, CEO, Visit Lansing

2:40 – 3:00 pm

Pain Management Travel: We’re Not Stoners, but Where’s The Nearest Dispensary?

According to a telephone survey of travel agents in Europe, medicinal travel for pain management is one of the most requested experiences from senior travelers who have visited the United States. Cannabis Dispensaries are now available in 17 states in the U.S.

Speaker:

  • Brian Applegarth, CEO, Cannabis Travel Association International

3:00 – 3:15 pm

The Four Pillars of Developing any Accessibility Strategic Plan

Instead of an ad hoc approach to becoming an accessible destination, we’ve assigned a former destination strategist, who spent nine years with the acclaimed Coraggio Group and now heads his own practice, to develop some key guiding principles to when developing strategic plans around accessibility

Speaker:

  • Matthew Landkamer, Founder, Whereabout

3:15 – 3:45 pm

True Confessions Sessions

Confessions of an Early Adopter

Diving into accessibility head first, Visit Mesa, was the world’s first autism-certified destination, the first to deploy Aira’s on-demand visual interpreters for blind visitors and residents, the first to use Wheel the World for accessibility hotel assessments, the first DMO to join Travelability’s Destination A11y Club, the first to add an “A” to their DE&I initiative (which is now, DEI and A,) and the first to collaborate on a craft beer with one of their breweries to raise awareness and funds for their foundation. What can we learn from them?

  • Marc Garcia, CEO, Visit Mesa
  • Alison Brooks, V.P. Destination Experience and Advocacy Visit Mesa

Confessions of a Late Bloomer

Two organizations that have recently embraced inclusivity as one of their core values discuss the external and internal factors that brought them to the decision and how they plan to execute it.

  • Patrick Lennon, Director of Marketing, Visit Fairfax
  • Arin Arnold-Davis, Administrative Project Manager, Visit Lexington

 

3:45 – 4:00 pm

Break

4:00 – 4:25 pm

What's the Benefit of Becoming a Certified Autism Destination?

This session will discuss how becoming certified can help you better serve and attract autistic guests or those with other sensory sensitivities, improve the guest experience for all, and empower your staff to have the confidence to handle guest-facing situations that may arise.

Speakers:

  • Nancy Bowman, VP Brand, Visit High Point
  • Meredith Tekin, President, IBCCES

 

 

4:25 – 4:40 pm

Accessibility and The Great Outdoors: A New Natural Wonder

The great outdoors can offer many benefits for our physical and mental health, but not everyone has equal access to nature. In this session, we will hear from experts and practitioners who work on designing and implementing accessible trails, campsites, parks, and other outdoor facilities. The session will provide practical tips and resources for improving accessibility and promoting diversity in the great outdoors.

Speaker:

  • Jeremy Buzzell, Manager, Park Accessibility for Visitors and Employees (PAVE) Program, National Park Service

 

 

4:00 – 4:40 pm

(Concurrent Session)

Deep Dive: What Do Blind and Low Vision Travellers Need?

A deep dive in to the travel experiences of 3 blind travelers.

Speaker:

  • Taylor Aguilar, TravelABility Fellow &Documentary Filmmaker
  • Josh Loebner, Global Head of Accessibility, Wunderman Thompson
  • Toby Willis, Expedia

 

 

4:45 – 5:50 pm

“The Out of the Box Consulting Room.” 20+ presenters and experts (including members of the Destination Ally Club) will be available for one-on-one consultation

Tap into free accessibility consulting by the some of the most knowledgeable people in America—our speakers, sponsors and panelists—as they answer any questions you might have about accelerating your accessibility.

 

 

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Reception

Reception

 

 

Sunday, August 20

7:30 – 9:00 am

Breakfast

Breakfast

 

 

9:00 – 9:45 am

Can the Impact of DEI & Accessibility Be Measured?

Tourism For All, a pilot project between Visit Charlottesville, Destinations International and TripAdvisor was designed to assess the impact that three years of outreach, stakeholder and visitor education had on TripAdvisor comments and reviews.

Speakers:

  • Mallory Smith, Sr. Digital Marketing, TripAdvisor
  • Courtney Cacatian, CEO, Visit Charlottesville Albemarle VCB
  • Sophia Hyder Hock, Chief Diversity Officer, Destinations International via Zoom

  • Talia Salem,Principal, The Urban Nomad via Zoom

     

     

 

 

9:45 – 10:10 am

How a Destination Thought Leader Decided to Embrace Accessibility

Whether you are a destination a convention center, a hotel, or an event planner, this session will give you valuable insights and tips on how to make your destination more accessible and appealing for meetings and events.

Speakers:

  • Stacie Ritter, CEO, Visit Lauderdale
  • Jake Steinman, Founder & CEO, TravelAbility

 

 

10:10 – 10:30 am

Point Counterpoint: Should Accessibility Fall Under DE&I or Should it Stand Alone

A discussion of the benefits an drawbacks of including accessibility under the DE&I umbrella.

Speakers:

  • Greg DeShields, President and CEO, Tourism Diversity Matters
  • John Morris, President, Wheelchair Travel

 

 

10:10 – 10:30 am

(Concurrent Session)

Accessibility in a Historically Preserved City

How a culinary group walking tour uses creative thinking and local resources to not only accommodate customers with disabilities, but also how they’ve justified the expense when the rate to serve the disabled guest is three times the price of the tour.

Speakers:

  • Stu Card, Co-Founder, Savannah Taste Experience

 

 

10:30 – 10:50 am

 

How Visit Lancaster Works with Influencers
  •  Ed Harris, CEO, Visit Lancaster

 

 

10:30 – 11:00 am

(Concurrent Session)

 

Deep Dive: Research

Join us for the breakout session, diving into the full results of this major US travel study being released at the TravelAbility conference. This custom, ‘hot off the press’ research (a special edition of The State of the American Traveler research report from Destination Analysts), shares the very latest insights on travelers with disabilities’ interests, behaviors, trip planning and media use. This essential session will both describe the travelers with disabilities segment and how to reach and engage with these special travelers. All attendees will get access to the full research summary at no cost.

Speakers

  • Kim Palmer & August Erickson of Miles Partnership

 

 

10:50 – 11:10 am

 

Morning Break

 

 

 

11:10 – 11:40 am

 

Convincing Hotel Managers to Embrace—rather than fear—Accessibility.

Hotel general managers have their own lived experience with accessibility. Can this simple 15 slide-deck, developed to be shared with Travelability’s Destination Ally Club partners, convert the mindset of hoteliers that of a compliance to growth.

Speakers

  • Jake Steinman, Founder & CEO, TravelAbility

 

 

11:10 – 11:40 am

(Concurrent Session)

How Destination Sustainability Can Power Tourism and Win Over Locals

Many believe sustainability is all about protecting natural resources, but the benefits of creating a sustainable destination can be far bigger. Find out how beloved vacation spots used destination stewardship strategies to tackle top local priorities like housing, traffic congestion, development, and trash while serving visitors, improving their communities, and generating awareness of the power of tourism.

Speaker:

  • Cathy Ritter, Founder, Better Destination
  • Andy Chapman, President & CEO, Travel North Tahoe Nevada
  • Racene Friede, President & CEO, Glacier Country Tourism (MT)
  • Cheryl Kilday, President & CEO, Destination North Myrtle Beach (SC)
  • Brett Stawar, President & CEO, Port Aransas (TX) Tourism Bureau

 

 

11:40 – 12:00 pm

 

Moonshot

A Conversation with the first person to experience Delta’s New Onboard Wheelchair Securement System

Speakers:

  • John Morris, President, Wheelchair Travel
  • Jake Steinman, Founder & CEO, TravelAbility

 

 

11:40 – 12:30 pm

(Concurrent Session)

Deep Dive: AI & Travel

A live demonstration of how the major AI engines can be trained for content creation, content discovery with specificity not found anywhere else. Can ChatGPT be used to make your destination more accessible friendly by improving website content, uncovering unknown accessibility features and help develop a search strategy as well as complete specific boilerplate sections of grant applications.Can artificial intelligence be used to reduce barriers in diversity, equity, and inclusion?

Speakers:

  • Lazlo Horvath
  • Will Seccombe

 

 

11:30 – 12:10 pm

Point Counterpoint: Should Accessibility Fall Under DE&I or Should it Stand Alone

A discussion of the benefits an drawbacks of including accessibility under the DE&I umbrella.

Speaker:

  • Greg DeShields, President and CEO, Tourism Diversity Matters
  • John Morris, President, Wheelchair Travel

 

12:10 – 12:30 pm

What's Happening in BC

The government of British Columbia Canada passed accessiblitiy legislation in 2021, underscoring its commitment to supporting people with disabilities. Learn how Destination British Columbia is supporting this legislation and about its commitment to build a province that is accessible to all travelers of varying abilities.

Speaker:

  • Kathleen Harvey, Destination  BC

 

 

12:30 – 2:00 pm

 

The First Annual TravelAbility Superstars Lunceon

What Makes Orlando and New York Two of the Top 10 Most Accessible Cities in the World?

Honorees:

  • Makiko Matsuda Healy, Vice President Tourism Development, NYC and Company
  • Danielle Hollander, CMO, Visit Orlando
  • Craig Kennedy, Open Doors
  • Alison Brooks, Visit Mesa
  • Stacy Ritter, Visit Lauderdale
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