5 DMO Practices to Host Disability Influencers More Authentically

While everyone’s talking about 2026 travel trends, visitors with diverse abilities are hoping one word stops becoming a trend and starts becoming a rule: accessibility. Travelers with disabilities know that the industry has made progress in this area. 

They also know they’re still an afterthought for many destinations.

Hosting diverse ability or disability influencers is a powerful and meaningful way for DMOs to highlight true accessible experiences. The storytelling these influencers provide is key to connecting authentically with travelers of all abilities.

DMOs need to stop waiting and reassess how they approach influencer partnerships to ensure respect, accessibility and impact. These five practices will help guide you in the right direction.

1. Prioritize Accessibility From the Start

Destinations need to make accessibility a feature of everything they do, not an exception. The fact of the matter is one in six people globally live with some sort of disability. Many of these disabilities are unseen.

Lead with an accessible mindset. Build itineraries with accessibility from day one: mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive needs included. Remember that an accessible experience doesn’t alienate anybody. It’s not “just for people with disabilities.”

To do list: This is a prime chance to involve influencers early to identify potential barriers and ensure comfort. Don’t assume you got it all right and be open to pushing further. Go beyond ADA compliance by highlighting accessibility in hotels, restaurants, attractions and transport through the lived experiences of influencers.

2. Compensate and Value Equitably

In the same spirit, treat diverse ability influencers as professionals with expertise, not as tokens. They aren’t there for a metric or a photo opp. They are visiting because they truly believe in your destination and want others to experience it no matter their abilities. You need to return that appreciation.

To do list: Concretely, this means paying competitive rates and covering additional accessibility costs like companion travel or adaptive transport where necessary. When you ensure equal opportunities alongside other creators, you make clear your commitment to inclusion.

3. Tell Authentic Stories, Not Stereotypes

Focus on the experiences, not the disability. When influencers are exploring your destination, let them control the storytelling. It won’t always be perfect. If they face certain challenges, make a note to ensure you’ve done all you can to remove the hurdle and address it later. But don’t let it get in the way of them experiencing something magical.

Accessibility means so many different things, so focusing on one person’s individual challenge undercuts the message you’re trying to spread.

To do list: Let influencers share their stories in their own voices, highlighting genuine travel moments. That’s why they’re coming to visit in the first place. Avoid framing content as “inspirational” — audiences value transparency and real experiences. They don’t want to be inspired. They want to be informed and reassured they, too, can come have a memorable experience in your destination.

4. Prepare Local Partners for Inclusive Hosting

Organizing an influencer trip isn’t all about the influencers. You need to get your house in order beforehand. That means priming hotel partners, attraction managers and guides who need clear direction on inclusive hosting.

Consider this an opportunity to offer staff training or briefing materials that can serve them forever. (Side note, DCI can assist you if you need to develop and deliver on training and briefing materials.) It will ensure a smoother experience for influencers and builds partner confidence that they can welcome guests with diverse abilities in the future.

To do list: Give partners ample lead-in time to get ready and review any materials you send their way. Provide key information about the disability influencers visiting, but also work with an outside specialist to create evergreen content to keep partners informed about how to be their most inclusive. (Again, DCI will be delighted to assist you!)

5. Amplify Year-Round, Not Just on Awareness Days

While an awareness day can be a catalyst, it’s not the only time to engage in accessibility storytelling. Reducing accessibility issues to awareness days diminishes the messaging that you’re being inclusive consistently.

Working with influencers at any time of the year allows you to collect and repurpose influencer content to use in campaigns and channels from January to December.

To do list: Position accessibility as a permanent brand pillar, not a one-off initiative. Share news about accessibility in your destination as it happens and don’t wait for an awareness day to spread the messaging. Travelers with disabilities arrive all the time, so be sure to slot in stories and content opportunities on social media and in newsletters throughout the year to reflect that reality.

Hosting diverse ability influencers isn’t just PR—it’s progress. By prioritizing accessibility, fair compensation, authentic storytelling, partner readiness and consistent amplification, DMOs can create powerful storytelling opportunities with influencers and build trust with travelers of all abilities.

Looking to expand your influencer marketing to include more diverse voices and abilities? It’s the right move. Get in touch with Tania Kedikian at Tania.Kedikian@aboutdci.com to tap into DCI’s extensive influencer relations team and start telling the whole story about your destination today.