NEWS: VRBO Announces Changes to Accessibility Features

Hold up! Did VRBO just make finding an accessible rental even easier?

VRBO has a new partnership with Becoming rentABLE, and it’s changing the game for accessible travel.

Accessibility isn’t one size fits all, and with the collaboration with Becoming rentABLE, VRBO is adding eight new accessibility filters for the search. Previously, the only filters were “wheelchair accessible” and “elevators.”

The new filters include:

• • Single-level property
  • Star-free path to entrance
  • Accessible parking
  • Accessible pool
  • Handrail in a stairway or hallway
  • Entrance ramp
  • Accessible path of travel
  • Accessible van parking

Right now, only 0.1% of short-term rentals are accessible. Compared to the 16% of the population with disabilities, that’s a huge difference! Adding these different filters can increase the number of accessible rentals.

Expedia owns VRBO, and it already has built-in accessible filters. Right now, you can choose from the following options for staying in hotels through Expedia:

• • Elevator
  • Roll-in shower
  • Accessible bathroom
  • In-room accessibility
  • Service animals allowed
  • Stair-free path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible parking
  • Sign language-capable staff

Finding rentals with specific accessibility filters can help prevent miscommunication between host and guest, where definitions like “wheelchair accessible” are too broad and might create different meanings. If you’ve ever gone into a space that said it was accessible while it wasn’t, you know the feeling!

The vice president of vacation rental partnerships at VRBO said, “Our hope is that this partnership not only educates and empowers short-term rental owners to make rentals more accessible but also encourages accessible travel across the entire hospitality industry.”

We’re excited to see these new changes and hope other companies take notice to appeal to a broader audience and increase accessibility across the board. Keep following AllEars for all the travel news you need.

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