Mar 17, 2025
Arturo Gaona, Chief Partnerships Officer and founding member of Wheel the World, to Speak in Canandaigua at the 2025 New York State Tourism Conference on Friday, April 25
Accessible travel is one of the most underestimated opportunities in tourism today. With over 1.2 billion people worldwide living with disabilities, this is the largest minority on earth—one that every single one of us will belong to at some point in our lives. Add to that the aging baby boomer population driving demand for accessible experiences, and the potential for destinations is undeniable. In this session led by Arturo Gaona, Chief Partnerships Office and founding team member of Wheel the World, you'll uncover the real ROI of investing in accessibility, share success stories from destinations leading the way, and provide practical steps to get started.
Beyond being a smart business move, making travel accessible is about breaking barriers, fostering inclusion, and future-proofing your tourism economy. Don’t miss this chance to learn how your destination can tap into this massive, growing market!
About Arturo
Arturo Gaona is the Chief Partnerships Officer and a founding team member of Wheel the World, a company at the forefront of accessible travel. Arturo has been instrumental in expanding the platform’s diverse offerings, enabling more people to discover inclusive travel experiences across the globe. Currently, he spearheads the commercial expansion of the Destination Verified program, ensuring that destinations meet the highest accessibility standards in hospitality.
Before embarking on his entrepreneurial journey, Arturo built a distinguished career in the medical devices industry, where he held key roles in sales, marketing, and training across Latin America. His global perspective is shaped by his roots in Mexico City, his five years in Europe, and his current residence in San Francisco.
A true outdoor enthusiast, Arturo enjoys hiking and mountain biking. He is deeply passionate about sharing the transformative power of travel and is committed to making it accessible to everyone.
About Wheel the World
Wheel the World is a venture-backed travel-tech startup revolutionizing accessible travel. Based in San Francisco, our online marketplace and booking platform cater to travelers with disabilities and seniors, ensuring they can explore the world with confidence. Over the past six years, we’ve built a passionate team of 50 professionals dedicated to digitizing accessibility information, enabling seamless, personalized travel experiences across 250+ destinations.
With an intuitive platform at www.wheeltheworld.com, travelers create profiles detailing their accessibility needs, allowing them to book accommodations, tours, and activities tailored to them. More than 15,000 travelers have already explored with us.
Beyond empowering individuals, Wheel the World is driving systemic change through its Destinations Verified Program, collaborating with 115+ Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) across North America—a milestone achieved in just two years. This initiative ensures destinations provide verified accessibility information, training for local partners, accessibility management system, ROI tracking, and other tools to make seamless booking experiences for visitors with disabilities.
With an intuitive platform at www.wheeltheworld.com, travelers create profiles detailing their accessibility needs, allowing them to book accommodations, tours, and activities tailored to them. More than 15,000 travelers have already explored with us.
Beyond empowering individuals, Wheel the World is driving systemic change through its Destinations Verified Program, collaborating with 115+ Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) across North America—a milestone achieved in just two years. This initiative ensures destinations provide verified accessibility information, training for local partners, accessibility management system, ROI tracking, and other tools to make seamless booking experiences for visitors with disabilities.