EXGR and Disability Advocates of Kent County partner to ensure accessible travel for all
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids has gained “Destination Verified” status as an accessible city through Wheel the World, an online platform and travel agency dedicated to enhancing global travel accessibility in four categories: mobility, auditory, visual, and sensory.
Wheel the World “Destination Verified” status recognizes communities that have undergone a rigorous, third-party accessibility assessment.
Prioritizing accessibility for visitors and residents
“This recognition underscores our longstanding commitment to enhancing accessibility in our community,” said Kate Lieto, vice president of marketing at Experience Grand Rapids. “We have been working closely with Disability Advocates of Kent County for the last eight years to make our destination more accessible for people with disabilities, and we’ve made tremendous strides. Leveraging a recent grant from the MEDC, we were able to take these efforts to the next level.”
In 2024, EXGR received an Accessible Traveler Grant through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and brought in Wheel the World to train DAKC team members in how to conduct accessibility assessments. DAKC then led assessments of 50 local businesses and amenities and provided participants with confidential evaluations that advised them on accessibility improvements.
“This certification is a reflection of our strong commitment to a more inclusive community,” said DAKC Executive Director, Dave Bulkowski. "Through our partnership with Experience Grand Rapids, as well as the support of the MEDC and dozens of local businesses and organizations, we’ve been able to improve accessibility for travelers with all kinds of disabilities. The value of that work extends to area residents with disabilities who can now more fully experience all that Kent County has to offer."
Despite this success, Lieto contends the work isn’t done.
“We’re collecting very detailed accessibility information from many tourism venues around town. Information from these organizations now appears on Wheel the World’s global platform and another 300+ will be completed this year and published on ExperienceGR.com,” she said. “The goal is to collect detailed information that travelers with accessibility needs can use to easily identify accessible features at hotels, restaurants, attractions and other businesses.”
EXGR and DAKC previously worked on venue mapping to improve accessibility in Kent County, a collaboration that earned them a 2019 Governor’s Award for Innovative Tourism Collaboration and landed Grand Rapids a top ten most accessible cities ranking in 2017 and 2019.
Grand Rapids is one of several Michigan cities that received MEDC Accessible Traveler Grants and joins Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo and Lansing as Wheel the World verified destinations working to make Michigan more accessible to travelers with disabilities.
Marketing Kent County as an accessible destination
In October, EXGR hosted online influencers Stefanie Schaffer and Erika Nala Franco—both of whom use wheelchairs—for a multi-night visit to explore Grand Rapids and share insights on typical barriers people with disabilities face. An international film crew worked closely with the influencers, EXGR staff and Wheel the World to document their experiences navigating the city’s hotels, restaurants, attractions, and transportation.
EXGR released the video today and will use it both to market Grand Rapids and Kent County as an accessible destination and to set an example for other destinations to follow.
For b-roll and images focused on accessibility, click here.
For more information, visit experiencegr.com/accessibility.
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About Experience Grand Rapids
Established in 1927, Experience Grand Rapids (EXGR) leads the marketing of Grand Rapids/Kent County as a premier convention & visitor destination providing a significant positive impact to the West Michigan economy. Previously named the Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau, EXGR represents the second largest city in Michigan with over one million residents.