Accessible tourism partnership strengthens verified travel information across Australia

Australia’s tourism industry is taking another step toward improving accessible travel, with the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) and The Accessible Group announcing a new partnership aimed at strengthening independently verified accessibility information across the sector.

The agreement formalises a collaboration that has already been operating for the past three years through the recognition of The Accessible Group’s Accessible Tourism Accreditation Program (ATAP) within ATDW tourism listings.

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Under the expanded partnership, verified accessibility information from participating tourism operators will be more clearly surfaced across ATDW listings, helping travellers, carers, seniors, support networks and tourism organisations identify businesses with independently verified accessibility credentials.

The Accessible Group operates two consumer-facing platforms, AccessibleAccommodation.com and AccessibleExperiences.com, which connect travellers with verified accessible accommodation and tourism experiences throughout Australia.

The partnership addresses a longstanding issue within the tourism sector, where inaccurate or incomplete accessibility information can significantly impact travellers with disability and their families.

Participating operators will be able to link ATDW listings directly to full accessibility profiles hosted on The Accessible Group’s platforms. These profiles are independently verified and developed with input from people with lived experience of disability.

The agreement also aims to improve search visibility and AI-readiness by providing structured accessibility data for high-intent travel searches, including step-free accommodation, wheelchair accessible bathrooms, sensory-friendly experiences, and visual or hearing assistance.

Senior Manager Nadia Feeney said ATDW has prioritised accessibility information for nearly a decade.

“ATDW has a long standing commitment to quality accessibility content, dating back almost a decade to when we first introduced accessibility data across all tourism profiles,” she said.

“This partnership strengthens ATDW’s role in distributing reliable, AI ready accessibility information across our network, helping destinations and operators ensure that verified accessibility details are easier to find, easier to understand and easier to trust.”

Kerry Williams, Founder of The Accessible Group said clear and trustworthy accessibility information is essential for travellers planning their trips.

“Tourism operators and destinations want to welcome every guest well, and accurate accessibility information is a big part of that,” she said.

“For seven years, we have worked with operators to independently verify their accessibility and present that information in a way travellers can actually use. When details are inaccurate or unclear, it can lead to stressful experiences for guests and erode trust in the wider industry.”

The partnership will roll out in phases, initially focusing on accreditation recognition, improved profile visibility and links from participating ATDW listings to verified accessibility profiles. Future phases may include deeper integration into ATDW’s next-generation platform.

The Accessible Tourism Accreditation Program currently includes accreditation levels covering Assisted Walking, Independent Wheelchair, Assisted Wheelchair and Sensory Assisted categories.

According to both organisations, the partnership is designed to create a clearer and more reliable pathway for accessibility information throughout Australia’s visitor economy.

The Autumn edition of AccomNews is out now. Read it HERE