TAMS (Travel & Meeting Society), a network of travel and meeting industry professionals, has announced its Advancing Accessibility in Travel Campaign. The campaign, according to the announcement, emerged from a shared commitment among industry professionals to address the critical need for accessible travel solutions and will work towards “establishing industry standards that empower individuals with accessibility issues to utilize travel services with confidence and ease.”
Originating within a Global Business Travel Association LADDERS team, according to the announcement, the campaign’s inception was rooted in a collective desire to advocate for accessibility beyond competitive borders. Recognizing the “glaring absence” of searchable accessibility features in booking tools, the team resolved to champion this cause from within the industry. (LADDERS is GBTA’s networking and professional development initiative.).
The campaign is being led by team of 30 volunteers headed by Andrew Slaiby of RTX and represents a spectrum of companies and nonprofit.
The campaign conducted over 30 interviews with accessibility experts, including representatives from TSA Cares. Insights gleaned from individuals representing 18 disabilities, from physical to cognitive and sensory impairments, have been instrumental in shaping the campaign’s approach.
The campaign’s mission centers on setting comprehensive accessibility standards for the travel industry. Collaborating with the American Hotel Lodging Association, TAMS introduced 22 lodging Open Travel Alliance (OTA) standards.
Looking ahead, the campaign will be:
- Leveraging its network to enhance data flow between the travel industry and booking tools.
- Continuing to refine and expand accessibility standards across the travel and meeting sector.
- Sustaining a commitment to ongoing research, ensuring that the campaign’s responses remain robust and informed.
- Cultivating strategic partnerships within the industry to advance shared accessibility goals.
