Expanding Accessible Travel, with Arturo Gaona

Episode 412

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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Arturo Gaona, Chief Partnership Officer at Wheel the World. Arturo shares how Wheel the World started with one vision in mind and evolved into a solution for helping visitors of all abilities know what to expect when planning their travels. He shares how Wheel the World collaborates with DMOs to map accessibility features and provide accurate, reliable accessibility information for travelers.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

• Why Wheel the World was founded and how a crowdfunding trip to Patagonia inspired the start of the company
• What the Accessibility Mapping System (AMS) is and how it helps both DMOs and travelers
• Specific challenges travelers with disabilities face and how Wheel the World’s solutions aim to address these issues
• How the Destination Verified program helps destinations attract more diverse visitors by making accessibility information more transparent and accessible
• What proactive steps DMOs can take to improve how they share information about accessibility

From Personal Experience to Global Impact

Arturo shares how Wheel the World was born in 2016, when a trip planned with friends, including a wheelchair user, to Torres del Paine in Patagonia exposed the glaring gaps in accessible travel information. The group’s determination led to creating a hiking wheelchair and a crowdfunded expedition, which went viral, catapulting the concept of accessible travel into the spotlight. The overwhelming internet response to their self-filmed documentary inspired Arturo and his friends to found Wheel the World in 2017.

How DMOs Can Create Accessible Destinations

The collaboration with Visit Mesa, a trailblazer in destination accessibility, was Wheel the World’s foray into working with DMOs. Arturo explains how their method helps destination marketers take steps to share their accessible locations with potential visitors:

1. Accessibility Information
Provide accurate and comprehensive accessibility information. Arturo explains that many destinations lack a centralized repository of accessibility data. By mapping the accessibility of over 90 destinations with its Accessibility Mapping System (AMS) app, Wheel the World can provide travelers with the information they need to plan their trips.

2. Booking Solutions
Once accessibility data is collected, the next step is ensuring that travelers can easily book accommodations and services that meet their unique needs. Wheel the World offers a user-friendly platform where accessible travel options are readily bookable, bridging the gap between information and action.

3. Training
Another barrier to accessible travel is hospitality professionals’ lack of knowledge and awareness of interacting with people with disabilities. Wheel the World’s Academy provides training that gives industry professionals the skills they need to provide excellent service, break down invisible barriers, and embed inclusivity. Arturo also discusses how marketers can present the destination in a way that resonates with travelers with disabilities, ensuring they feel welcomed and included.

Arturo emphasizes that DMOs can start by taking small, actionable steps toward inclusivity. The key starting point is to find out a destination’s accessibility information online and then work on continuously improving accessibility.

Resources:

• Website: https://wheeltheworld.com/
• LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arturo-gaona-ab38a71a/
• LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wheeltheworld/
• Destination Verified: https://wheeltheworld.com/destination-verified?

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