Our Vision & Mission

Our history and successes to date:

Since we launched TravelAbility in 2019, we’ve been busy. Our first conference was in 2019, and we’ve grown exponentially since then.

Here’s an update on the programs that were initiated.

Some of the highlights of 2023 include:

• 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.
• 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.

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 launched a joint program between Visit Florida and Wheel the World (WTW), a company that provides accessible travel experiences. The program enabled WTW to map accessible features in 30 locations across three Florida destinations, with Visit Florida funding half of the costs. This program was presented to all in Florida at their yearly conference, and it has since grown to 14 destinations in the state.

We didn’t do this alone. We’d like to thank all of you for your guidance and support.