Able2Global and WelcoMe team up to bring accessibility tools to U.S. hospitality

By AI, Created 10:19 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Able2Global and U.K.-based WelcoMe announced a partnership May 5 to launch a hospitality accessibility system in the United States for the first time. The deal combines WelcoMe’s platform with Able2Global’s Inclusioneer Framework to help hotels, resorts and cruise lines audit gaps, train staff and prepare for guests with disabilities.

Why it matters: - The partnership targets a U.S. hospitality accessibility gap the companies estimate at more than $100 billion in annual accessible travel spend. - The offering is designed to help hotels, resorts and cruise lines serve guests with disabilities more consistently, which can affect loyalty, length of stay and group travel. - The launch brings a full accessibility system to the U.S. market that combines operational guidance with software tools.

What happened: - Able2Global and WelcoMe announced a strategic partnership on May 5 in Richmond, Virginia. - WelcoMe is entering the U.S. market for the first time through Able2Global’s proprietary Inclusioneer Framework. - Able2Global was founded by hospitality advisor and wheelchair user Mike Clapper. - WelcoMe is already used by more than 160 venues across the U.K.

The details: - The Inclusioneer Framework has three pillars: Design That Includes, Hospitality That Elevates and Systems That Scale. - Design That Includes focuses on physical and experiential accessibility. - Hospitality That Elevates focuses on staff behavior, guest interaction and service delivery. - Systems That Scale is intended to make accessibility practices work consistently across properties and shifts. - WelcoMe’s SaaS platform supports the three pillars by helping operators audit gaps, train teams and prepare for guests before arrival. - The partnership offers three core capabilities in the U.S. hospitality market: audit, train and prepare. - The audit function identifies failures across physical design, communication and service delivery before guests raise issues themselves. - The training function uses spaced repetition and just-in-time training triggered when a guest books. - The prepare function uses the WelcoMe Key so guests can share accessibility requirements once and venues can receive a full breakdown before each visit. - The prepare function also lets venues communicate directly with guests before arrival. - WelcoMe’s technology backbone is already trusted by Battersea Power Station, City of Westminster and NorthLink Ferries. - WelcoMe’s U.K. customer base also includes The Scottish Parliament and City of Westminster Council, according to the company materials. - The companies said the framework is built on the belief that barriers, not people, are the problem. - Able2Global’s website is able2global.com. - WelcoMe’s website is wel-co.me.

Between the lines: - The partnership is trying to turn accessibility from a compliance task into a revenue and loyalty strategy. - The pitch is as much about operations as technology, with the companies arguing that culture change requires both training and systems. - The U.S. market may be attractive because accessible travelers often travel with companions and spend more than brands currently capture.

What’s next: - Able2Global and WelcoMe are positioning the partnership for hospitality brands that want a structured accessibility program rather than one-off fixes. - The companies are likely to use the U.S. launch to expand adoption among hotel owners, general managers and cruise line operators. - Mike Clapper and Gavin Neate said the partnership is intended to help hospitality brands meet unmet demand in accessible travel.

The bottom line: - Able2Global and WelcoMe are betting that accessibility will be a competitive advantage when it is treated as an operating system, not an add-on.