The Global Accessibility Report, produced by Destinations International and City Destinations Alliance, found that only 35% of respondents have the resources in place to ensure that meetings are accessible.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.3 billion people (approximately 16% of the global population) live with severe disabilities. Accessibility is not just about human rights. The World Health Organization says this is a business opportunity for destinations and companies to embrace all visitors and increase revenue.
John Sage is a manual wheelchair user and CEO of Accessible Travel Solutions, helping businesses and destination management organizations (DMOs) provide the best experiences for travelers with disabilities.
“Any opportunity to increase accessibility awareness is extremely valuable. Many C-suite executives and decision-makers don’t fully understand accessibility, and reports like this are beneficial,” Sage said.
Sage also emphasized the importance of ISO 21902:2021. This is an accessible tourism standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It includes strategic and actionable recommendations for delivering accessible travel experiences.
Many conferences have accessibility flaws
Sage, who frequently speaks and attends industry conferences, said there is still much work to be done. “I’ve yet to see a conference get accessibility right,” he said. “Before registering, I would like to know the accessibility of partner hotels and meeting spaces to decide whether to attend.”
It is not enough to use a square on a registration form to represent a person’s needs. “This is a very reactive approach that increases risk and cost for event organizers,” Sage said. “At this point everything is under contract and event organizers do not have the ability to make venues improve accessibility. The proactive approach is to assess accessibility during the RFP process.
Sage and his colleagues at Accessible Travel Solutions are creating a global accessible travel certification. “We specialize in leisure travel, meetings and events, and business travel. It will serve as a single, cross-sector global certification to help disabled travelers and businesses,” Sage said.
The Global Accessibility Report is based on a 2024 survey of 92 destinations. It has three goals: understand accessibility challenges and opportunities, improve destination accessibility, and inspire improvements.
“Ensuring accessibility is not just about meeting regulatory requirements, but about creating meaningful, inclusive experiences for all visitors,” said Barbara Jamison-Woods, president of the Urban Destinations Alliance.
The right destination
The Global Accessibility Report also profiles destinations that have implemented measures, including certifications and toolkits, activity guides, and recommended accessibility checklists.
According to the report, tourist destinations that have achieved this include Brussels Tourism, Glasgow Convention Bureau, Wellington New Zealand, Bologna Foundation, Munich Tourism, Fáilte Ireland, Berlin Tourism, Tallinn, Washington DC Tourism, New Orleans Tourism Bureau, Edinburgh Convention Center and Tourism Ottawa.
“Findings from the Global Accessibility Report show that accessibility strategies at meetings and events remain inconsistent across destinations. To drive meaningful change, attendee experience must be considered – imagine what it feels like for people with disabilities to participate,” Destinations said International Chief Inclusion Officer Sophie Hyder Hock. “By understanding accessibility from a human-centered perspective, destination and meeting planners can more effectively identify and implement the changes needed to create inclusive events.”
Accessibility doesn’t have to be expensive
Rosemari Rossetti, a wheelchair user and accessibility conference consultant and frequent speaker on disability issues, said the Global Accessibility Report is a game-changer for DMOs, conference professionals and CVBs . “Anytime you evaluate the environment in which meetings are held it’s a good thing. We have to make sure they can accommodate everyone,” she said.
Accessibility doesn’t have to be expensive. In some cases, it costs nothing at all. For example, use a 30-inch table for dining and social events. Additionally, remove chairs from meeting spaces to accommodate people using scooters or wheelchairs. Also, reserve front row seats for people with hearing or vision impairments, Rossetti said.
