International Disability Day (3 December) 2024 has passed and here is a wrap-up of the different companies that stepped-up their inclusive travel offerings.

Quest Apartment Hotels

With 4.4 million Australians living with disability, Quest Apartment Hotels is leading the way in accessible accommodation.

Quest highlighted its commitment to creating inclusive travel experiences that make every stay matter. This commitment has seen Quest honoured with the Innovative Collaboration Award at the prestigious 2024 HM Awards. The accolade recognises Quest’s partnership with Accessible Accommodation, a collaboration that is paving the way for inclusive travel across Australia.

Quest has become the first major accommodation provider to adopt Accessible Accommodation’s three-tiered rating accreditation system, setting a new standard for inclusivity in the tourism industry. With 86 Quest properties across Australia now accredited, this initiative empowers travellers with disabilities to book with confidence, knowing they have access to accurate and transparent accessibility information.

The three-tiered accreditation system, recognised as a benchmark in the tourism sector and utilised by the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse, allows prospective guests to quickly assess a property’s accessibility. Each Quest property’s accreditation seal is clearly displayed on the accessible rooms bookable on the website, making it easier than ever for guests to plan their stay.

Business owner of Quest Springfield Central, Luke Frederick, believes his business has only benefitted from taking the property beyond mere compliance and making it truly inclusive for guests at every point of their stay, with accessible room occupancy increasing by nearly 50 per cent this year.

Quest Apartment Hotels inclusive travel.

“It’s important to us because we believe everyone should be welcomed equally,” Frederick said. “Having the benefits to be able to offer accessible accommodation and provide options for guests to suit their needs when they visit our area is fantastic for our property, while creating an effortless stay is at the heart of what we’re about at Quest Springfield Central.”

In Victoria, Quest Burwood East is the very first non-boutique operator in the country to receive a Tier-3 rating, providing the highest level of accessibility, which indicates the room has amenities to support a person who is unable to life themselves, like a Hi-Lo Electric Bed and a hoist.

Accessible Accommodation Founder, Kerry Williams, said Quest recognises the need for a collaborative approach in meeting the growing community’s need for accessible rooms.

“We created this accreditation system so guests with accessibility needs can find peace of mind when booking their stay,” Williams said. “Travellers with access needs require transparent, detailed and reliable information on accessibility features of tourism operators. When a hotel displays our Accreditation Seal, it signals that their accessible features have been thoroughly vetted by accessibility experts, eliminating anxiety that so many of our followers experienced in the past.

“Quest Business Owners are eagerly integrating new features to provide delightful and accessible travel experiences, while their hotels are setting new standards for comfortable, stylish and modern accessible rooms that don’t feel like hospital accommodation.

“Accessibility is not just about meeting standards; it’s about opening doors, both literally and figuratively, to experiences, independence and dignity for everyone. At Quest, we believe that travel should be an inclusive journey that empowers individuals and strengthens communities. Our commitment to providing accessible accommodation ensures that no one is left behind and every guest feels truly welcomed and valued.

“There’s a tremendous appetite among our Franchise Partners to accommodate greater accessibility in their properties. They recognise not only the social impact but also the business potential in meeting the needs of this growing market. We’re proud to support our franchised Business Owners with resources, training and actionable steps to deliver meaningful improvement to inclusive travel.”

SeaLink Marine & Tourism

On the International Day of People with Disabilities, SeaLink Marine & Tourism has announced it has joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, an international initiative that helps individuals with non-visible disabilities discreetly signal they may need additional assistance, patience, or understanding.

The Sunflower if a globally recognised, wearable symbol often seen on a lanyard, wristband, or lapel pin that indicates a person may have a disability not immediately apparent. Designed to help approximately 1.3 billion people worldwide who live with a disability, the program acknowledges that many conditions, whether neurological, cognitive, physical, or sensory-related, can impact individuals in various ways and often remain unseen. Through this initiative, SeaLink aims to empower guests who may need extra support to engage fully in their travel experience.

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

“As one of Australia’s largest marine and tourism operators, the SeaLink Marine & Tourism family welcomes more than 9 million people annually on our various experiences across 21 locations, where our goal is to provide brilliant, memorable, and positive experiences to all of our guests,” SeaLink Marine & Tourism CEO, Donna Gucci, said.

“Joining the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program strengthens our commitment to diversity and inclusion across our brands and locations. We’re genuinely excited to join this initiative in many of our business units in 2025, ensuring every one of our guests feel supported when visiting and experiencing Australia’s iconic holiday destinations or getting wherever they need to go.”

With over 2,000 employees, SeaLink Marine & Tourism operates a diverse range of brands including SeaLink ferries, Captain Cook Cruises on Sydney Harbour and the Swan River in Perth, the PS Murray Princess on the Murray River, Kingfisher Bay Resort on K’gari (Fraser Island), and Whitsunday-based brands Red Cat Adventures and Whitsunday Jetski Tours. The SeaLink Marine & Tourism portfolio operates in locations from Sydney to Brisbane, the Whitsundays to Townsville, Kangaroo Island to Adelaide and the Murray River, Rottnest Island, Darwin, Bruny Island and beyond, with its businesses working to embrace inclusivity through the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative in the coming year.

SeaLink Marine & Tourism trained team members who can discreetly identify guests in need of extra support. Participating SeaLink locations will have visible identifiers, and SeaLink team members who have completed training will be identifiable by their white Sunflower Supporter lanyards or pins and able to provide additional assistance if required, ensuring a warm and welcoming environment.

“With 1 in 5 Australians (or 1 in 6 people worldwide) who identify as having a disability, it is estimated that 80-85 per cent are not identifiable by the use of a wheelchair, walking sick, hearing aid, seeing-eye dog etc,” HD Sunflower director Aus/NZ, Justin Bruce, said.

“That means that roughly 15 per cent of our population have a disability, medical condition or disorder that we may not be aware. This includes customers, colleagues, friends and family who may need assistance or support at any given time. We’re thrilled SeaLink Marine & Tourism has joined the Sunflower program, helping to make Australia’s iconic travel experiences more inclusive and accessible for everyone and contributing to building a more inclusive society.”