S8/E2 Accessible Travel Isn’t a Niche: Designing Travel for Everyone
Travel is still leaving both travellers and money on the table, largely because people aren’t getting the accessibility information they need to book with confidence.
In this episode, Dan sits down with Dr. Yvette Pegues, Chief Prevention Officer at Your Invisible Disability Group; Alvaro Silberstein, Co-founder and CEO of Wheel the World; and Lorraine Woodward, CEO and Founder of Becoming rentABLE, to talk about where the travel industry is falling short and what needs to change.
We start with what accessible travel actually means, because it goes far beyond ramps and wheelchair access. From airports and airlines to hotels and short-term rentals, the conversation explores why seemingly small details can make or break a trip. Bed height, door widths, bathroom layouts, thresholds and even the surface between the parking lot and front door can determine whether a traveller can comfortably use a space. Just as important is making that information easy to find before someone books.
We also talk about why meeting accessibility regulations is only the starting point. Yvette explains why some of the biggest barriers are attitudinal rather than physical, while Alvaro and Lorraine share what they’ve learned about giving travellers enough information to decide for themselves whether an experience will work for their individual needs.
Then we look at where technology could help. AI has the potential to make travel planning much more personalized, matching travellers with hotels and experiences based on their specific accessibility requirements. But as Alvaro points out, that only works if the industry has accurate, detailed data to begin with.
Finally, we look at what it would take to reach a point where we no longer need to talk about accessible travel as a separate category at all. From better staff training and stronger leadership to involving people with disabilities much earlier in the design process, the goal is ultimately simple: make accessibility part of what a great travel experience looks like for everyone.
👉 Listen to Accessible Travel Isn’t a Niche: Designing Travel for Everyone
🔥 Special Thanks to our Season 8 Title Sponsors for their Support: Quark Expeditions, Intrepid, Kaptio, Propellic, Repayd, and Holafly
