Fora Travel, a prominent New York-based host agency, has recently launched a groundbreaking program aimed at educating its 5,500 travel advisors about accessible travel. This initiative is designed to equip travel professionals with the knowledge and skills to better serve clients with mobility needs, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to experience the joy of travel, regardless of their physical limitations.
The new program is not only about providing theoretical knowledge, but it also offers practical tools for advisors. It includes a comprehensive online training course that covers topics such as gathering client information, understanding accessibility requirements, and booking travel with specific mobility needs in mind. Additionally, Fora has created a WhatsApp group and a monthly newsletter to keep advisors up to date with the latest trends and destinations in the accessible travel space.
The program was co-created with the valuable input of Fora’s own advisors, many of whom personally live with mobility challenges. One such advisor is Karen Morales, a Boston-based travel expert who joined Fora two years ago. After a successful career in advertising and marketing, Morales faced a life-altering experience in 2020 when she became a wheelchair user due to a degenerative disease. Despite the challenges, Morales continued her passion for travel, though she encountered significant barriers along the way.
“I found that you weren’t getting offered the same level of service,” Morales recalls. “You didn’t have the same options, and it was frustrating. But despite everything getting harder, travel needed to remain my joy.”
Morales recognized that the global population’s accessibility needs are only going to increase, particularly as the baby boomer generation ages. She estimated that around 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability, a statistic that is only expected to grow. This insight led her and her colleagues to develop a program that empowers all 5,500 Fora advisors to book accessible trips, even if accessibility isn’t the majority of their business.
A key aspect of the program is the curated list of over 100 partners worldwide who specialize in accessible travel. This global network provides travel advisors with the tools they need to plan accessible vacations for clients with various mobility challenges. According to Morales, one of the most common questions people with disabilities ask is, “Where can I go?” This question differs from the typical travel inquiry of “Where do I want to go?” and underscores the limited options many individuals with disabilities face when booking travel.
The accessible travel training is structured to be self-paced and easily accessible online, allowing advisors to learn at their convenience. The course highlights the importance of collecting detailed information from clients, such as whether they can transfer from a wheelchair to a car or if they require specific equipment, such as a shower seat. These small but crucial details can make a significant difference in ensuring that a trip meets the client’s needs.
In addition to understanding individual requirements, the training covers various aspects of travel planning, including transportation, hotels, and activities. It stresses the importance of verifying accessibility before clients embark on their journey. For example, if a wheelchair user requests an accessible hotel room, an advisor is encouraged to speak directly with the hotel’s general manager to ensure the room is available.
The launch of this initiative has been met with enthusiasm, with around 750 Fora advisors signing up for the first webinar on accessible travel. Hundreds attended the live session, and many more accessed the recording afterward. Morales also shared a heartwarming story of an 80-year-old client who traveled to Ireland to get married with the help of the program. Despite the extra effort required to assist with wheelchair travel, Morales described the experience as deeply rewarding, noting that the gratitude expressed by clients feels particularly special.
“It’s more hand-holding,” she said. “It’s more following up. It takes more effort. But I promise you—it will be almost more rewarding than any other trip you book. The thank-yous just hit differently.”
Through this innovative program, Fora Travel is not only making travel more inclusive but is also empowering its advisors to make a lasting impact on their clients’ lives, one accessible trip at a time.
