A July Travel Pulse article headlined this warning for travel professionals, “Don’t be Fooled”, cautioning against competitors disguised as “partners” or service providers. A recent online discussion spoke to the same issue, alerting agents to a well-known firm that on the surface provides services for travel agencies, but covertly solicits the agency’s clients directly—to sell travel.
If this has happened to you, we’d like to hear about your experience. If you’re not sure it has happened— or may be happening— here are a few red flags to help you determine if your service provider or vendor is a dedicated provider or a travel agency with a sideline, pursuing the same clients you are.
1. Do the provider’s brochures list their contact information and phone number prominently with small, or no space at all for “Call Your Travel Agent”? You expect your service providers to distribute brochures. However, if they showcase only the service providers contact information without a prompt for contacting a travel agent, you may be unknowingly promoting a competitive travel seller. One travel agent reported that a service provider’s brochure listed the provider’s number four times in large type (22 point font size) while listing “or call your travel agent” once —on the back, in small type (6 point font). And the brochure was designed to sell cruise vacations. As professionals within the travel industry, we all expect the competition to be forthright and honest, not hiding behind a disguise.
2. Is the provider requesting your client list, and then reaching out to your clients without going through you or including you in the solicitation? Even more egregious, is the provider tapping into your client list without your knowledge using the data you’ve supplied for delivery of their services or products to compete with you? For example, if you contract a gift basket company to deliver bon voyage or thank you gifts to your clients, you do not expect that company to “thank you” by using client contact information to solicit your clients with travel offers. Listen for indications from your clients that you have been bypassed and your trust in the provider violated.
3. Is the provider advertising or listing special offers to entice consumers to call direct, bypassing travel agents? In one documented instance, a service provider was offering their services “free” to travelers who booked direct. Because you sell travel, and not the services provided by outside vendors, chances are you cannot match the service provider’s “free” or discounted promotional offers for booking a trip. This gives the service provider an unfair advantage in covertly competing for your business.
4. Does the provider routinely participate in travel or cruise nights with travel, rather than service related marketing materials? As the leading provider of wheelchairs, oxygen, scooters and other special needs equipment for travelers, Special Needs Group regularly attends trade events and exhibits at travel trade shows to promote the range of services we provide for travel agents and their clients. However, we do not sell travel, and in no way compete with travel agents. Our sole business function is providing wheelchairs, oxygen, scooters and other special needs equipment for travelers with disabilities. We are dedicated to that single business format and goal. We are experts in the field of special needs equipment and are passionate about what we do. At your next trade event, visit the exhibit booths for the companies you contract with for services or products to stay updated, but also to see what they are promoting. It may be travel.
Special Needs Group understands what it means to be a true partner to travel agents, and remains committed to adding value for our agent partners through dedicated service and core business values that include integrity and honesty. We never compete with travel agents, on any level, and engage in only one business----serving as a one-stop resource for special needs equipment for travelers with disabilities.
Additionally, we work hard to keep the travel agent community informed of ways to expand their business by reaching out to the dynamic special needs marketplace; a marketplace that invests more than $13.5 billion a year in travel.
Visit the Travel Agent pages of our website http://www.specialneedsgroup.com/ to learn more about how we can help YOU sell more travel.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Americans With Disability Act, 20 Years of Progress As World Continues to Welcome Slow Walkers and Travelers with Special Needs
This year, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) celebrates its 20th Anniversary. Since the ADA’s inception, we have seen significant changes within the travel industry including accessibility across the fleet for cruise ships, including foreign-flagged vessels carrying U.S. passengers and more ramps, railings and grab bars in public venues. We have also seen a deepening respect and higher level of acceptance for all forms of ability differences.
Looking ahead, there are new provisions being implemented that will bring even more positive changes for the slow walker and special needs traveler. For example, new rulings will bring over 100 state and local governments into ADA compliance, making it easier for you to access almost any facility or venue in even the most remote, rural location. Additionally, the guidelines for what constitutes a “disability” have been expanded to include temporary conditions as well as conditions that can be controlled with medications.
Even though the ADA has made significant strides, there are still more improvements that can be implemented. For example, we’d like to see booking features relating to accessible accommodations on online booking sites and more universal accessibility standards around the globe. Foreshadowing future advances, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, Anne Duncan, commented in a recent address that students with disabilities who graduated in 2010 are members of the “ADA Generation,” ---a new generation of Americans with disabilities growing up with the expectation of “no barriers”; of differences no longer being an issue, or even noticed. This is an important advance for inclusive and accessible travel throughout the U.S. and around the world.
Today, travel for slow walkers, individuals with disabilities, the elderly or those with chronic illness is no longer as unusual, intimidating or difficult as it was 20 years ago. In the words of one traveler, the new world of travel is “curb-less and obstacle free.”
Underscoring the fact that ability diversity is well-integrated into the fabric of travel, the Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH) was chosen to be inducted into the Cruise Industry Hall of Fame as a 2010 honoree beside industry luminaries such as Mickey Arison, CEO of Carnival Corporation. We should note, SATH participated in the writing of the regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Air Carriers Access Act. The work of SATH, the impact of the ADA and the rise in the numbers of persons with physical challenges who enthusiastically travel has dramatically changed.
America’s sensitivity to persons with disabilities and this sensitivity, and pro-active concern, has traveled to other cultures. In China, for example, the China Wheelchair foundation in Shanghai, sponsored a ‘Wheelchair Experience and Accessibility Facility Survey' in which able-bodied citizens volunteered to try navigating the city of Shanghai in wheelchairs. The goal was to gain a better understanding of what persons with limitations experience “seeing the world one meter high.” After learning how to use the chairs, the volunteers had to navigate sidewalks, take public transportation, find usable bathrooms and go shopping. Their experiences resulted in a new guidebook (in Chinese) titled “Operation Mobility”. The guidebook, the first of its kind for China, provides information on access to city bathrooms, public transit, wheelchair friendly shopping malls, education, dining, entertainment and libraries. It will be distributed free. Plans are underway to make this type of access effort a nationwide project, making China an “obstacle-free” destination.
More is happening worldwide--- and more needs to happen. But for now, for the progress that has been made so far at home, on the seas and abroad, happy 20th Anniversary ADA, and thanks.
Looking ahead, there are new provisions being implemented that will bring even more positive changes for the slow walker and special needs traveler. For example, new rulings will bring over 100 state and local governments into ADA compliance, making it easier for you to access almost any facility or venue in even the most remote, rural location. Additionally, the guidelines for what constitutes a “disability” have been expanded to include temporary conditions as well as conditions that can be controlled with medications.
Even though the ADA has made significant strides, there are still more improvements that can be implemented. For example, we’d like to see booking features relating to accessible accommodations on online booking sites and more universal accessibility standards around the globe. Foreshadowing future advances, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, Anne Duncan, commented in a recent address that students with disabilities who graduated in 2010 are members of the “ADA Generation,” ---a new generation of Americans with disabilities growing up with the expectation of “no barriers”; of differences no longer being an issue, or even noticed. This is an important advance for inclusive and accessible travel throughout the U.S. and around the world.
Today, travel for slow walkers, individuals with disabilities, the elderly or those with chronic illness is no longer as unusual, intimidating or difficult as it was 20 years ago. In the words of one traveler, the new world of travel is “curb-less and obstacle free.”
Underscoring the fact that ability diversity is well-integrated into the fabric of travel, the Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH) was chosen to be inducted into the Cruise Industry Hall of Fame as a 2010 honoree beside industry luminaries such as Mickey Arison, CEO of Carnival Corporation. We should note, SATH participated in the writing of the regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Air Carriers Access Act. The work of SATH, the impact of the ADA and the rise in the numbers of persons with physical challenges who enthusiastically travel has dramatically changed.
America’s sensitivity to persons with disabilities and this sensitivity, and pro-active concern, has traveled to other cultures. In China, for example, the China Wheelchair foundation in Shanghai, sponsored a ‘Wheelchair Experience and Accessibility Facility Survey' in which able-bodied citizens volunteered to try navigating the city of Shanghai in wheelchairs. The goal was to gain a better understanding of what persons with limitations experience “seeing the world one meter high.” After learning how to use the chairs, the volunteers had to navigate sidewalks, take public transportation, find usable bathrooms and go shopping. Their experiences resulted in a new guidebook (in Chinese) titled “Operation Mobility”. The guidebook, the first of its kind for China, provides information on access to city bathrooms, public transit, wheelchair friendly shopping malls, education, dining, entertainment and libraries. It will be distributed free. Plans are underway to make this type of access effort a nationwide project, making China an “obstacle-free” destination.
More is happening worldwide--- and more needs to happen. But for now, for the progress that has been made so far at home, on the seas and abroad, happy 20th Anniversary ADA, and thanks.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
BUILDING YOUR PRESENCE WITHIN THE SPECIAL NEEDS AND SLOW WALKER GROUP TRAVEL MARKETS
With more than 50 million individuals spending an estimated $13.6 billion on travel annually, the Special Needs travel market is a lucrative segment to develop. Add in an additional $192 billion spent by the Mature Adult / Slow Walker market and you have an even greater segment of group travel opportunities. Partnering with a special needs organization such as the Multiple Sclerosis Society of America, the National Diabetes Foundation or others can help launch your special needs group business with big results.
How do you get started? Following are six easy steps to help you build partnerships within the dynamic special needs niche.
1. Leverage personal connections. Do you have clients, friends, acquaintances or even relatives with a physical disability? Tap into their networks. Let them know you are interested in developing a specialty in this niche, and ask for suggestions. What local organizations do you belong to? How can you participate or help? Ask about opportunities for donating prizes for events or raffles. Take every opportunity to network within their sphere of influence. Sign-up for mailing lists for the organizations; get the organization onto yours. Suggest organizing a small fund-raising cruise or trip. With some nurturing, the small group trips can expand into larger one, and these individuals may become “ambassadors” for your agency.
2. Be seen and heard. Attend networking events targeting or involving the special needs niche. This includes activities for the “Silver” or over 60 markets, events for people with diabetes, arthritis and other conditions that impact physical ability. The activity directors for retirement communities are an excellent resource with the potential to become group travel partners.
3. Be seen and heard in cyberspace also. If you have a website, tout your special needs specialty on the site with a dedicated section. Engage the special needs community through social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others. We’ve found it easy to connect with special needs individuals and organizations via both Facebook and Twitter. Simply input keywords such as “special needs”, “Multiple Sclerosis” or “senior” into the search window on these sites. Becoming a fan of Special Needs Group or following us on Twitter (@SpeclNeedsAtSea) will help you network within the special needs cyber universe.
4. Identify and connect to special needs events and organizations via Google. Rather than diluting your efforts by attempting to cover multiple organizations at once, choose one or two organizations and events you feel passionate about, and commit for the long term. This allows time to understand the specific market in depth, helping you become the travel “expert” for this market.
5. You’ve identified the organizations and events that interest you most, now invest the time and money to participate in order to increase visibility and advanced networking opportunities with that organization. Begin by taking a booth at key events, such as the annual Diabetes, Cerebral Palsy or MS Walk or the MS Gala & Fashion Show. You might look for volunteer opportunities within the organization, including serving as a board member or trustee.
6. Maintain a database. Ask the organizations to help you build your database. Then work that database.
Why wait? The time to get started is now. There are dozens of excellent organizations to tap into, and we are always here to assist with you and your clients with the quality wheelchairs, scooters, oxygen equipment and other items they might need to make travel more accessible and more enjoyable.
How do you get started? Following are six easy steps to help you build partnerships within the dynamic special needs niche.
1. Leverage personal connections. Do you have clients, friends, acquaintances or even relatives with a physical disability? Tap into their networks. Let them know you are interested in developing a specialty in this niche, and ask for suggestions. What local organizations do you belong to? How can you participate or help? Ask about opportunities for donating prizes for events or raffles. Take every opportunity to network within their sphere of influence. Sign-up for mailing lists for the organizations; get the organization onto yours. Suggest organizing a small fund-raising cruise or trip. With some nurturing, the small group trips can expand into larger one, and these individuals may become “ambassadors” for your agency.
2. Be seen and heard. Attend networking events targeting or involving the special needs niche. This includes activities for the “Silver” or over 60 markets, events for people with diabetes, arthritis and other conditions that impact physical ability. The activity directors for retirement communities are an excellent resource with the potential to become group travel partners.
3. Be seen and heard in cyberspace also. If you have a website, tout your special needs specialty on the site with a dedicated section. Engage the special needs community through social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others. We’ve found it easy to connect with special needs individuals and organizations via both Facebook and Twitter. Simply input keywords such as “special needs”, “Multiple Sclerosis” or “senior” into the search window on these sites. Becoming a fan of Special Needs Group or following us on Twitter (@SpeclNeedsAtSea) will help you network within the special needs cyber universe.
4. Identify and connect to special needs events and organizations via Google. Rather than diluting your efforts by attempting to cover multiple organizations at once, choose one or two organizations and events you feel passionate about, and commit for the long term. This allows time to understand the specific market in depth, helping you become the travel “expert” for this market.
5. You’ve identified the organizations and events that interest you most, now invest the time and money to participate in order to increase visibility and advanced networking opportunities with that organization. Begin by taking a booth at key events, such as the annual Diabetes, Cerebral Palsy or MS Walk or the MS Gala & Fashion Show. You might look for volunteer opportunities within the organization, including serving as a board member or trustee.
6. Maintain a database. Ask the organizations to help you build your database. Then work that database.
Why wait? The time to get started is now. There are dozens of excellent organizations to tap into, and we are always here to assist with you and your clients with the quality wheelchairs, scooters, oxygen equipment and other items they might need to make travel more accessible and more enjoyable.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wheelchair Accessories for Safety, Comfort and Individuality
When driving a car, car owners make sure their cars provide safety and comfort. Many also like to add personality to their cars by decorating them with bumper stickers, license plate frames, detailing and more. Just like a car, wheelchair owners look for safety, comfort and individuality when using their wheelchair. Thanks to our readers, we recently learned about three products that are lesser known but significantly enhance a wheelchair user’s experience. Although Special Needs Group does not sell or rent these items, we thought they were worthy of passing along the information.
Motorized and manual wheelchairs are frequently hit by vehicles due to them being so low to the ground and drivers not paying attention to them. As wheelchairs have no reflectors or lights, they are especially vulnerable to accidents at night. One great product on the market is spoke reflectors. The reflectors clip onto the spokes of the wheelchair wheel and make the wheelchair more visible. The spoke reflectors are lightweight and can be placed in interesting patterns to express one’s individuality.
Another product we learned about is the FreeWheel™ Wheelchair attachment. This durable, lightweight wheel attachment clamps to existing wheelchairs and enables users to push over surfaces that would typically be impossible like grass, curbs, rough road and other terrains. The product is lightweight (under 5 lbs), easily clamps on to existing wheelchair’s footrest and is made from strong, aircraft quality aluminum material.
And finally, for those who don’t like tracking dirt, leaves or other outdoor contaminates from outside into your home, a great option is to use wheelchair tire covers. When entering your home, you simply need to slip on the covers to keep the floors clean and dirt-free. They are designed to come on and off easily, so many wheelchair users can place them on and remove them without any help. Made out of foam and fabric, they are machine washable.
There are many other great wheelchair accessories out there – lights, backpacks, drink holders, umbrellas and more. Whether it’s transporting your favorite items along, providing you with safety or just adding personal flare – we encourage you to check out accessories to make your wheelchair experience more enjoyable, safe and fun.
Motorized and manual wheelchairs are frequently hit by vehicles due to them being so low to the ground and drivers not paying attention to them. As wheelchairs have no reflectors or lights, they are especially vulnerable to accidents at night. One great product on the market is spoke reflectors. The reflectors clip onto the spokes of the wheelchair wheel and make the wheelchair more visible. The spoke reflectors are lightweight and can be placed in interesting patterns to express one’s individuality.
Another product we learned about is the FreeWheel™ Wheelchair attachment. This durable, lightweight wheel attachment clamps to existing wheelchairs and enables users to push over surfaces that would typically be impossible like grass, curbs, rough road and other terrains. The product is lightweight (under 5 lbs), easily clamps on to existing wheelchair’s footrest and is made from strong, aircraft quality aluminum material.
And finally, for those who don’t like tracking dirt, leaves or other outdoor contaminates from outside into your home, a great option is to use wheelchair tire covers. When entering your home, you simply need to slip on the covers to keep the floors clean and dirt-free. They are designed to come on and off easily, so many wheelchair users can place them on and remove them without any help. Made out of foam and fabric, they are machine washable.
There are many other great wheelchair accessories out there – lights, backpacks, drink holders, umbrellas and more. Whether it’s transporting your favorite items along, providing you with safety or just adding personal flare – we encourage you to check out accessories to make your wheelchair experience more enjoyable, safe and fun.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Planning Excursions and Tours for Special Needs Groups
Creating trips for persons with special needs is a niche with untapped potential. Travelers with disabilities spend an average of $13.6 billion a year on travel, so working within the special needs niche is rewarding in every way.
The key difference for planning special needs excursion and tours is that persons with disabilities or physical limitations often request slower paced groups, accessible transportation and accessible destinations. Here are a few tips from Special Needs Group and other special needs travel professionals for getting started:
Kristy Lacroix of Wheelchair Escapes, recommends taking Accessibility Travel courses through the Travel Institute to learn the basics. “Joining SATH, the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality, is a great next step,” she says.
Focus on a specific needs group (e.g., wheelchair users, slow walkers, individuals with hearing impairments) to become an expert faster. Alana Mizowicki of Fun Cruises and Travel has been developing trips for slow walkers and wheelchair users since 2001 in partnership with the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. She says specialization leads to stronger partnerships and resources.
Experience and verify every aspect of the trip to ensure it is tailored to the abilities of your group. Lacroix plans customized travel for individuals and small groups and suggests taking photographs to review “the whole process.” Issues such as entry ramps to buildings, accessible bathrooms, wheelchair vans and benches for slow walkers are all critical. If you cannot visit a destination, ask the right questions. For destinations, are sidewalks wheelchair friendly? What are the requirements for service animals? For transportation, do vans have straps for securing wheelchairs? How many wheelchairs can be accommodated? For venues, are there entry ramps and elevators? What are the doorway widths? Are bathrooms accessible?
Don’t assume other countries have the same accessibility standards as the United States. Some ports are not suitable for excursions, so warn your group they may not be going ashore at these ports or may experience limitations if they do. As the leading global provider of special needs equipment, Special Needs Group, works constantly with cruise lines to solve challenges, including what to do when a ship cannot dock portside and tender transfers are required.
Build a reliable team
It takes teamwork to put all the pieces in place. According to Mizowicki, her team consists of the cruise line staff, her agency associates, the partnering foundation and service providers such as Special Needs Group. She also brings experts onboard for physical therapy, acupuncture and exercise classes. One key aspect of special needs travel is the opportunity to help people explore new possibilities; going beyond the diagnosis of their disease to become the most they can be. That takes teamwork.
Team members can keep you prepared. Occasionally, travel agents or special needs groups underestimate the quantities of wheelchairs and oxygen required for a trip. Special Needs Group works with agents and planners to recommend different quantities of supplies to help ensure that the group has all of special needs equipment each person will require for the duration of the trip. “We make sure no one runs out of oxygen or is without audio aides or a power chair when they need it,” says Andrew Garnett, founder and CEO of Special Needs Group.
“Always expect and be prepared for the unexpected. On every trip I learn something new that helps me with my next group,” adds Mizowicki.
“Everyone wants to travel,” says Lacroix. “Just because they are in a wheelchair does not mean they cannot travel the world with dignity.”
The key difference for planning special needs excursion and tours is that persons with disabilities or physical limitations often request slower paced groups, accessible transportation and accessible destinations. Here are a few tips from Special Needs Group and other special needs travel professionals for getting started:
Kristy Lacroix of Wheelchair Escapes, recommends taking Accessibility Travel courses through the Travel Institute to learn the basics. “Joining SATH, the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality, is a great next step,” she says.
Focus on a specific needs group (e.g., wheelchair users, slow walkers, individuals with hearing impairments) to become an expert faster. Alana Mizowicki of Fun Cruises and Travel has been developing trips for slow walkers and wheelchair users since 2001 in partnership with the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. She says specialization leads to stronger partnerships and resources.
Experience and verify every aspect of the trip to ensure it is tailored to the abilities of your group. Lacroix plans customized travel for individuals and small groups and suggests taking photographs to review “the whole process.” Issues such as entry ramps to buildings, accessible bathrooms, wheelchair vans and benches for slow walkers are all critical. If you cannot visit a destination, ask the right questions. For destinations, are sidewalks wheelchair friendly? What are the requirements for service animals? For transportation, do vans have straps for securing wheelchairs? How many wheelchairs can be accommodated? For venues, are there entry ramps and elevators? What are the doorway widths? Are bathrooms accessible?
Don’t assume other countries have the same accessibility standards as the United States. Some ports are not suitable for excursions, so warn your group they may not be going ashore at these ports or may experience limitations if they do. As the leading global provider of special needs equipment, Special Needs Group, works constantly with cruise lines to solve challenges, including what to do when a ship cannot dock portside and tender transfers are required.
Build a reliable team
It takes teamwork to put all the pieces in place. According to Mizowicki, her team consists of the cruise line staff, her agency associates, the partnering foundation and service providers such as Special Needs Group. She also brings experts onboard for physical therapy, acupuncture and exercise classes. One key aspect of special needs travel is the opportunity to help people explore new possibilities; going beyond the diagnosis of their disease to become the most they can be. That takes teamwork.
Team members can keep you prepared. Occasionally, travel agents or special needs groups underestimate the quantities of wheelchairs and oxygen required for a trip. Special Needs Group works with agents and planners to recommend different quantities of supplies to help ensure that the group has all of special needs equipment each person will require for the duration of the trip. “We make sure no one runs out of oxygen or is without audio aides or a power chair when they need it,” says Andrew Garnett, founder and CEO of Special Needs Group.
“Always expect and be prepared for the unexpected. On every trip I learn something new that helps me with my next group,” adds Mizowicki.
“Everyone wants to travel,” says Lacroix. “Just because they are in a wheelchair does not mean they cannot travel the world with dignity.”
Friday, April 9, 2010
Cruising for a Cause - The Rewards of Booking Special Needs Groups
The average size for Sandra Cline’s group cruises is 300. She has 360 passengers booked for Alaska this season and her 2011 Alaska voyage—just announced—is already selling out. Sandra owns Palm Beach Country Cruise & Travel in Palm Beach, Florida. Her specialty is booking group travel for persons with Multiple Sclerosis—MS. Sandra is one of the growing numbers of travel professionals who have discovered the benefits of arranging group travel for persons with special needs.
Special Needs group travel is an underserved market niche. According to census figures, approximately 51.2 million persons in the U.S. ---18 percent of the population---have some form of disability and be helped by those who understand the unique requirements for special needs travelers. That’s a marketplace larger than Canada. And it makes sense that persons with special needs want to travel with others who share their disability.
Booking special needs groups is a rewarding and profitable niche. Here are tips for getting started.
Understand your market. Organizations such as SATH (Society for Accessible Travel and Tourism) have resources to help you transition into this specialty. Talk with agents experienced in this niche. Connie George of Connie George Travel has 15-years experience in group travel for wheelchair travelers and slow walkers. She advises that you must be comfortable asking personal questions that you might never ask a non-disabled client. “It’s the only way to ensure you are providing for everyone’s needs.”
Choose your trip carefully. We recommend cruise vacations. Today’s cruise ships are highly accessible, and cruising takes your group to multiple destinations while providing a variety of onboard dining and entertainment experiences. With transportation, accommodations, meals and entertainment in one fee, pricing is easier. Ms. George points out that cruise ships have a higher percentage of accessible accommodations than land-based hotels and resorts and provide overall friendlier service.
Celeste Belyea of CruisePlanners/Get Up and Go2 plans group travel for persons with respiratory problems. She finds cruise lines easy to work with. “I travel with lots of equipment including concentrators and enough oxygen to go to the moon,” she says. “Cruising offers flexibility and space.”
Select the ship that best fits your group. Generally, newer (and bigger) ships have more accessibility features built in. Visit the ship before booking to check the number of elevators, layout of the dining venues and location of accessible cabins. Ship visits help identify issues early ----such as fitting lots of service animals into the dining room at mealtime—so ship staff can help find solutions.
Plan for the unexpected. According to Ms. Cline, “There are challenges at every corner.” When she first began booking MS groups, stateroom doors on ships were not always wide enough for wheelchairs creating a problem. “Where do we put all these wheelchairs at night?” Although rarely an issue on modern ships, there are concerns such as boarding 300 wheelchair passengers at once or overly steep embarkation ramps. To solve embarkation challenges at the Port of Seattle, Royal Caribbean International arranged for groups to bypass the ramp and board directly through the loading dock gangway.
Holland America, Princess, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and other lines have a large percentage of accessible cabins fleet-wide. Still, placing a large group onboard a ship with 46 accessible cabins requires forethought. Here’s where we can help. It’s easy to make any stateroom more accessible by renting commode chairs, shower stools, patient lifts and other specialty equipment, including hospital beds and full size cribs from Special Needs Group. Keep in mind, 70 percent of wheelchair users book non-accessible cabins when traveling on their own according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
If your cruise includes shore excursions, be aware that most tour vans accommodate a limited number of wheelchairs. CruisePlanners/Get Up and Go2 arranges their own land tours. “Our group members travel at a slower pace. We need to stop whenever someone wants to.”
Arrive a day early to give the group time to unwind. Try to meet with ship staff before sailing to address any last minute glitches.
Make sure you have trip insurance. Special needs groups are at higher risk for last minute emergencies.
Be in tune with your niche. Persons with disabilities often travel with caretakers, so plan some activities that give caretakers time off. Celeste Belyea’s cruises include events exclusively for the person with disabilities—no care takers—plus seminars covering the latest advances in equipment or special needs technology.
Be honest. Connie George points out that you can’t always make travel perfect for everyone. There are limitations. Most importantly, she says, “be sincerely committed to the work.”
Beyond the monetary rewards, you will be helping people forget their disability and enjoy the pleasures of travel.
Special Needs group travel is an underserved market niche. According to census figures, approximately 51.2 million persons in the U.S. ---18 percent of the population---have some form of disability and be helped by those who understand the unique requirements for special needs travelers. That’s a marketplace larger than Canada. And it makes sense that persons with special needs want to travel with others who share their disability.
Booking special needs groups is a rewarding and profitable niche. Here are tips for getting started.
Understand your market. Organizations such as SATH (Society for Accessible Travel and Tourism) have resources to help you transition into this specialty. Talk with agents experienced in this niche. Connie George of Connie George Travel has 15-years experience in group travel for wheelchair travelers and slow walkers. She advises that you must be comfortable asking personal questions that you might never ask a non-disabled client. “It’s the only way to ensure you are providing for everyone’s needs.”
Choose your trip carefully. We recommend cruise vacations. Today’s cruise ships are highly accessible, and cruising takes your group to multiple destinations while providing a variety of onboard dining and entertainment experiences. With transportation, accommodations, meals and entertainment in one fee, pricing is easier. Ms. George points out that cruise ships have a higher percentage of accessible accommodations than land-based hotels and resorts and provide overall friendlier service.
Celeste Belyea of CruisePlanners/Get Up and Go2 plans group travel for persons with respiratory problems. She finds cruise lines easy to work with. “I travel with lots of equipment including concentrators and enough oxygen to go to the moon,” she says. “Cruising offers flexibility and space.”
Select the ship that best fits your group. Generally, newer (and bigger) ships have more accessibility features built in. Visit the ship before booking to check the number of elevators, layout of the dining venues and location of accessible cabins. Ship visits help identify issues early ----such as fitting lots of service animals into the dining room at mealtime—so ship staff can help find solutions.
Plan for the unexpected. According to Ms. Cline, “There are challenges at every corner.” When she first began booking MS groups, stateroom doors on ships were not always wide enough for wheelchairs creating a problem. “Where do we put all these wheelchairs at night?” Although rarely an issue on modern ships, there are concerns such as boarding 300 wheelchair passengers at once or overly steep embarkation ramps. To solve embarkation challenges at the Port of Seattle, Royal Caribbean International arranged for groups to bypass the ramp and board directly through the loading dock gangway.
Holland America, Princess, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and other lines have a large percentage of accessible cabins fleet-wide. Still, placing a large group onboard a ship with 46 accessible cabins requires forethought. Here’s where we can help. It’s easy to make any stateroom more accessible by renting commode chairs, shower stools, patient lifts and other specialty equipment, including hospital beds and full size cribs from Special Needs Group. Keep in mind, 70 percent of wheelchair users book non-accessible cabins when traveling on their own according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
If your cruise includes shore excursions, be aware that most tour vans accommodate a limited number of wheelchairs. CruisePlanners/Get Up and Go2 arranges their own land tours. “Our group members travel at a slower pace. We need to stop whenever someone wants to.”
Arrive a day early to give the group time to unwind. Try to meet with ship staff before sailing to address any last minute glitches.
Make sure you have trip insurance. Special needs groups are at higher risk for last minute emergencies.
Be in tune with your niche. Persons with disabilities often travel with caretakers, so plan some activities that give caretakers time off. Celeste Belyea’s cruises include events exclusively for the person with disabilities—no care takers—plus seminars covering the latest advances in equipment or special needs technology.
Be honest. Connie George points out that you can’t always make travel perfect for everyone. There are limitations. Most importantly, she says, “be sincerely committed to the work.”
Beyond the monetary rewards, you will be helping people forget their disability and enjoy the pleasures of travel.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Cruising with a Special Needs Child
Cruising is an excellent vacation choice for families with a special needs child. It’s a chance to visit multiple destinations without flying or driving from city to city and the family only has to unpack once--important plus for your special needs child. Once settled into your stateroom, there are few disruptions to routine.
Today’s passenger cruise ships are very accommodating to persons with special needs, and more kid-friendly than ever. Almost all ships offer supervised, age-appropriate activities for children plus menu options that appeal to young people, from pizza and hot dogs to ice cream and cupcakes. Flexible dining hours and multiple venues make it easier for families to dine together, or for parents to feed the children early and enjoy a quiet dinner alone later. Importantly, there are activities for your child throughout the day, and often into the evening.
If you are considering a cruise with your special needs child, here are a few tips to ensure smooth sailing.
Book early
Most lines have a designated number of accessible staterooms located through the ship. Book early for the best choice of cabin location and configuration. Whether you want to be near the elevator, or need a bathroom with safety rails on the right, booking early presents the most options.
Alert the line
Today’s passenger cruise ships are very accommodating to persons with special needs, and more kid-friendly than ever. Almost all ships offer supervised, age-appropriate activities for children plus menu options that appeal to young people, from pizza and hot dogs to ice cream and cupcakes. Flexible dining hours and multiple venues make it easier for families to dine together, or for parents to feed the children early and enjoy a quiet dinner alone later. Importantly, there are activities for your child throughout the day, and often into the evening.
If you are considering a cruise with your special needs child, here are a few tips to ensure smooth sailing.
Book early
Most lines have a designated number of accessible staterooms located through the ship. Book early for the best choice of cabin location and configuration. Whether you want to be near the elevator, or need a bathroom with safety rails on the right, booking early presents the most options.
Alert the line
Ships with designated youth programs are prepared to accommodate children with disabilities, and often employ staff experienced in working with special needs children. Lines, such as Carnival Cruises even have children’s staff trained in sign language. It’s essential that you contact the line in advance to let them know your child will be onboard, outlining the specific disability. Some of the lines will add extra staff if they know a special needs child will be attending activities, and all lines will ensure your child is placed in the most appropriate programs. Royal Caribbean International, for example, groups children in their popular Adventure Ocean program by ability rather than age and provides pagers for parents.
Boarding
An advance call also facilitates boarding and disembarking assistance. Rather than waiting in line, you may be eligible for priority boarding.
Shore excursions
Boarding
An advance call also facilitates boarding and disembarking assistance. Rather than waiting in line, you may be eligible for priority boarding.
Shore excursions
Evaluate the itinerary to see how often the ship docks portside—the easiest on and off—or anchors out, using a tender to bring passengers ashore. You may want to select a cruise requiring the least tender use, and check in advance for accessibility ashore. Disney Cruise Line provides a limited number of beach wheel chairs for children, at no charge, on its private island, Castaway Cay, on a first-come basis. Ask your cruise line what’s available.
Arrive the day before
Flight delays and last minute “dashes” to the port are stressful. Arrive early. Relax.
Rent the equipment you need
Why haul a wheelchair, oxygen or other special needs equipment from home when it’s easy to have everything waiting for you in your stateroom? Special Needs Group provides pediatric wheelchairs, pediatric oxygen concentrators and flow meters, bed rails meant for children, and more, including beach wheelchairs. Make-A-Wish calls frequently to arrange for their traveling children. In addition to the equipment, we can also deliver baby formula, diapers, nutritional supplements such as PediaSure, and specific baby food directly to the ship.
Let your travel agent know precisely what your child will require while on the cruise---or call Special Needs Group direct. As a Preferred Supplier for the cruise lines and the only Preferred Accessibility Partner for Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise industry organization, Special Needs Group / Special Needs at Sea can make your cruise easier and more enjoyable.
We deliver the full range of special needs equipment to staterooms and cruise ships at ports around the world. We can even arrange equipment for your pre or post cruise land stay.
There are several organizations to help you learn more about cruising with special needs including the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (www.sath.org) and CLIA (www.cruising.org). Look for travel agents who specialize in special needs travel, and start planning your cruise.
Arrive the day before
Flight delays and last minute “dashes” to the port are stressful. Arrive early. Relax.
Rent the equipment you need
Why haul a wheelchair, oxygen or other special needs equipment from home when it’s easy to have everything waiting for you in your stateroom? Special Needs Group provides pediatric wheelchairs, pediatric oxygen concentrators and flow meters, bed rails meant for children, and more, including beach wheelchairs. Make-A-Wish calls frequently to arrange for their traveling children. In addition to the equipment, we can also deliver baby formula, diapers, nutritional supplements such as PediaSure, and specific baby food directly to the ship.
Let your travel agent know precisely what your child will require while on the cruise---or call Special Needs Group direct. As a Preferred Supplier for the cruise lines and the only Preferred Accessibility Partner for Cruise Line International Association (CLIA), the world’s largest cruise industry organization, Special Needs Group / Special Needs at Sea can make your cruise easier and more enjoyable.
We deliver the full range of special needs equipment to staterooms and cruise ships at ports around the world. We can even arrange equipment for your pre or post cruise land stay.
There are several organizations to help you learn more about cruising with special needs including the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (www.sath.org) and CLIA (www.cruising.org). Look for travel agents who specialize in special needs travel, and start planning your cruise.
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