GREATER PALM SPRINGS, Calif.—Visit Greater Palm Springs has partnered with accessible travel platform Wheel the World to become an Accessibility Verified Destination, providing travelers with verified accessibility information for participating hotels, restaurants, attractions, and experiences across the region.
As part of the partnership, trained Wheel the World mappers conducted onsite assessments at participating businesses. The assessments documented more than 200 accessibility criteria, including step-free access, accessible parking, bathroom features, room configurations, and other details travelers may need when planning a visit.
Wheel the World reports that one in six people worldwide lives with a disability. In the United States, 15 million travelers with disabilities take more than 40 million trips each year, contributing $120 billion in travel spending, according to the company.
“Travel is about discovering new places, sharing experiences, and making memories with people you love. Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy that,” says Lauren Bruggemans, senior director of destination stewardship for Visit Greater Palm Springs. “Having the right information ahead of time can make all the difference. We want travelers to arrive feeling confident, welcomed, and ready to enjoy their time here.”
The designation supports Visit Greater Palm Springs’ broader destination stewardship efforts to create a more inclusive visitor experience. The destination is also a Certified Autism Destination, a designation that reflects its work with local tourism and hospitality partners to support travelers with varying abilities and needs.
Travelers can access verified information on participating accommodations, restaurants, attractions, and additional accessible-travel resources through Wheel the World.
