Promoting Grand Rapids as an Accessible Destination

Experience Grand Rapids wants every visitor to our region to feel welcome and accommodated. That includes travelers with all different types of abilities.

In 2018, we teamed with Disability Advocates of Kent County (DAKC) to highlight accessibility features at 60+ of the area’s most popular hotels, attractions, restaurants and service providers. DAKC, which strives to help people with disabilities live the self-directed life they choose, surveyed each venue and provided detailed information on navigating their space if you have mobility, auditory or visual issues.

Our work was honored with a 2019 Governor’s Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration from the Tourism Industry Coalition of Michigan (TICOM). It was also a factor in WalletHub naming Grand Rapids the #8 Best U.S. City for People with Disabilities that same year.

Our Accessibility Journey

While we were pleased with the recognition, we know that accessibility is an ongoing journey, not a destination. We are always looking for ways to help our partners become more inclusive and reach out to travelers looking for accessible destinations. We are pleased to report that we have received a grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to further these efforts.

The $100,000 grant was awarded in June 2024 on the basis of an application detailing our accessibility plans. The grant requires a matching $100,000 investment from EXGR and all funds must be spent by November 2025.

“The goals of our accessibility project are threefold and are ultimately aimed at making Grand Rapids a top choice for accessible travelers,” says Kate Lieto, EXGR’s Vice President of Marketing. She outlines the goals as:

1. Education. We will be training tourism stakeholders in best practices to improve accessibility and create a more welcoming environment. Our annual Partner Event kicks off the education process this November with a joint presentation by DAKC and EXGR.
2. Information. We have engaged DAKC to survey all 350+ of our industry partners to provide visitors and local residents with the most comprehensive, up-to-date reference on local accessibility. This information will be featured on ExperienceGR.com.
3. Marketing. Wheel the World is an online travel booking platform focused on providing all the details travelers need about accessible hotels and experiences around the world. While the name implies wheelchair accessibility, Wheel the World is dedicated to making travel accessible for people with all types of disabilities.

We are working towards a Grand Rapids landing page on WheeltheWorld.com that will showcase 50 accessible Kent County venues and serve as a marketing tool and planning resource for travelers.

Wheel the World will verify the accessibility of these venues and produce a media package with high-quality photos and videos to boost the area’s visibility as an accessible travel spot. The material will then be woven into the Experience Grand Rapids annual marketing strategy to inspire travel to Kent County.

Bottom-line Benefits

Investing in accessibility and inclusion is not just the right thing to do, it can also be beneficial to the bottom line. Our sister company, the West Michigan Sports Commission, has found great success in emphasizing the area’s accessibility-friendly environment. In just the past few months, they’ve helped host wheelchair rugby, tennis and lacrosse tournaments here in town.

The WMSC has also convinced Move United to host The Hartford Nationals in Grand Rapids in 2025 and 2026. The nation’s largest and longest-running national sport championship event for youth and adult athletes with a physical disability, visual impairment or intellectual disability, The Hartford Nationals will bring upwards of 400 athletes and 150 coaches to Grand Rapids each year, generating an estimated economic impact of more than $4.2 million.

That’s money spent in local hotels, restaurants, stores, attractions and other businesses – some of which will be invested back into even more accessibility features!

Visit our Accessibility landing page for more information, including accessible tourism insights from travelers with disabilities.