Making Accessibility the Default in Business Travel

Every day, millions of travelers face barriers that most of us never notice: a kiosk that’s too high to reach, a booking system that doesn’t work with screen readers, or unclear signage at critical moments. The business travel industry serves everyone, yet not everyone can travel with equal ease.

Travelers with disabilities represent a significant and underserved market. Beyond the moral imperative, there’s a business case: accessible travel isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s smart business.

That’s why the GBTA Foundation launched the Accessibility for All initiative. Our goal is to unite industry leaders, share best practices, and drive meaningful change across the travel ecosystem.

What would it look like if accessibility wasn’t an afterthought, but the default?

Imagine a world where every traveler, regardless of ability, can book, navigate, and complete their journey with confidence and dignity. This isn’t a distant dream; it’s happening now, thanks to forward-thinking partners who are leading by example.

GBTA Accessibility Partner spotlight: Amadeus

One of our Accessibility Council partners helping bring this vision to life is Amadeus. Amadeus technology powers the global travel and tourism industry. Through their accessibility work, Amadeus is demonstrating how inclusive design can move from aspiration to action — and why collaboration across the travel ecosystem is essential to meaningful progress.

“In such an interconnected industry, we must all work together to find innovative solutions to accessibility challenges, to transform travel, and to implement change at scale,” says Esther Villena, Head of Social Sustainability at Amadeus.

What they’re doing

• Product Innovation
Amadeus is building accessibility into key travel solutions, from Amadeus Cytric’s WCAG 2.1 AA-aligned digital experience to airport self-service kiosks with tactile buttons, adjustable text sizes, screen-reader technology, and wheelchair-accessible positioning.

• Systemic Integration
In 2025, Amadeus embedded digital accessibility as a standard requirement across its product lifecycle, helping ensure accessibility is considered from the earliest stages of development rather than retrofitted later.

• Training and Awareness
Amadeus equips product and customer-facing teams with training on inclusive design, accessibility standards, evolving regulations, and how to deliver solutions that are easier to use for more people.

• Industry Collaboration
Beyond their own walls, Amadeus joined the GBTA Foundation’s Accessibility for All initiative and IATA’s Accessibility Task Force, contributing to industry-wide progress.

The ripple effect

Amadeus’ approach illustrates a key insight: accessibility isn’t just about compliance – it’s about innovation. When companies design for the widest range of users, everyone benefits.

Through our Accessibility Council, we’re seeing this pattern repeat: partners who invest in accessibility discover new opportunities, build stronger customer loyalty, and contribute to an industry that works for all.

What’s next

The next frontier? At the GBTA Foundation, we believe this is just the beginning. We’re committed to amplifying these innovations, connecting partners, and holding the industry accountable to progress. Through Accessibility for All, we’re creating a platform to spotlight important work from every angle of the travel ecosystem – technology providers, suppliers, travel managers, airports, airlines, and more – so the industry can learn from one another and move from individual action to collective progress.

Emmanuelle Casado, Sustainability Solutions Senior Manager at Amadeus, shared that the company is scaling trusted accessibility data across the travel ecosystem and leveraging AI to deliver personalized, inclusive experiences – anticipating traveler needs before they even ask.

Our shared call to the industry is: Make accessibility the default – design, build, and collaborate so the widest range of travelers can move with confidence, dignity, and equal opportunity.

Accessibility is everyone’s responsibility. Whether you’re a travel manager, supplier, or industry professional, you have the power to make a difference.

1. Join the conversation: Share your accessibility challenges and wins with GBTA Foundation via accessibility@gbta.org
2. Learn more and take action: Explore GBTA Foundation’s Accessibility resources and evaluate your organization’s accessibility practices
3. Partner with us: Become a GBTA Foundation Accessibility Partner and join our Accessibility Council

Together, we can build a travel industry where everyone moves with confidence, dignity, and equal opportunity.