BREAKOUT SESSION
INDUSTRY CHATTER ON A TOPIC THAT ’ S IMPORTANT TO YOU
TRAVEL PROFESSIONALS SHARE HOW THEY ARE WORKING TO MAKE THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY MORE INCLUSIVE .
ccessible travel has grown by
“ A leaps and bounds . People with disabilities are eager to get out and explore the world , just like everyone else . In the last year , I have had the honor to speak around the country about accessibility , and everyone is eager to learn more . After being the keynote speaker for the National Tour Association in March , we ’ ve seen a huge surge in destinations wanting to better understand the needs of travelers with disabilities . As the official ambassador for TravelAbility , I hosted Innovatable , a pitch competition for technology that helps those with disabilities travel , and I was one of the emcees for TravelAbility , which had its largest attendance since being founded . Later this year , I ’ m hosting an online accessible travel summit , and next year , TravelAbility will have an agent track as part of the conference .” KRISTY DURSO , OWNER OF INCREDIBLE MEMORIES TRAVEL
ANDREY _ POPOV / SHUTTERSTOCK . COM
“ In 2018 , I decided to change to a gluten-free diet for health reasons and suddenly became aware of all the challenges in traveling with dietary restrictions . Ordering meals and being worried about cross-contact became stressful for me , and I decided to help others who faced the same struggles . It has been a gratifying experience to help those with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity plan their vacations . I am able to provide my clients with my first-hand experience of traveling while gluten-free , and it is exciting to see how some resorts and cruise lines are making changes to help those with dietary restrictions .”
ELLEN NESTORICK , OWNER OF GLUTEN-FREE VACATIONS
“ P
laya Hotels & Resorts owns and / or manages a total portfolio consisting of 25 resorts located in Mexico , Jamaica and the Dominican Republic . One of Playa ’ s commitments is to promote inclusiveness and celebrate diversity . Playa will continue to value and prioritize people . While attending industry events , we were hearing a consistent message that agents wanted to see a more diverse representation in marketing materials available to them . I ’ m proud that our team at Playa took that feedback and acted . We have since created
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