Airbnb adds accessibility filters and experiences

Airbnb has launched an awareness campaign to encourage Aussies and New Zealanders to help make travel more accessible.

According to Tourism Research Australia an estimated 20 per cent of Australian adults have a disability or long-term health condition and Statistics New Zealand found as many as 1 in 4 New Zealanders have a physical, sensory, learning, mental health or other disability.

See also: Here’s why the industry is missing out by not catering to the special needs market

As one of the first steps to ensure Airbnb’s community is accessible to everyone, the platform has introduced 27 new accessibility filters to make it easier for people to find homes which fit their needs, and so hosts can better market their home’s accessible features for incoming guests.

Late last year, Airbnb acquired Accomable, the London-based accessible travel startup founded in 2015 by Srin Madipalli and Martyn Sibley – two friends with Spinal Muscular Atrophy in the UK.

Accomable linked travellers with disabilities with listings that met their needs.

The launch of an awareness campaign in Australia and New Zealand comes as Madipalli, now Accessibility Product and Program Manager at Airbnb, continues his work meeting with Airbnb hosts, guests and disability sector representatives in Sydney this week.

Srin Madipalli

“As a passionate traveller and person with a disability, I’ve always known how difficult it can be to plan a trip,” Madipalli said.

“I not only want to stay in a trendy, accessible home in a new destination but I want to explore, meet new people and get a true taste of the local culture.

“As a power wheelchair user, that can be tough. At Airbnb, we recognise this and we want to make it easier for guests to find homes which suit their needs, but we also want to enable everyone to enjoy authentic, local Experiences, whatever their requirements.”

In the coming months, Airbnb said its accessibility team will continue to prioritise sourcing accessible Experiences across Australia and New Zealand, with an emphasis on making sure guests with a disability can find Experiences which suit their needs.

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As adaptive sports come into the spotlight in Sydney this month, and Australia gears itself up for a bumper summer of sport, there’s never been a better time to become an Experience host on Airbnb.

“We want to encourage more entrepreneurs to create unique, accessible Experiences on Airbnb, whether you want to introduce guests to an adaptive sport, host a local art or cooking class or take travellers on a step-free or sensory journey through one of your favourite neighbourhoods,” Sam McDonagh, Airbnb Country Manager, Australia and New Zealand said.

“We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local cultures of the places they visit across Australia and New Zealand, regardless of disability, and there’s no better way to do this, than through Airbnb.”

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

accessible travel special needs market travel with disability