In partnership with the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, GLP Films is honored to receive the Grand Prize of the The top 10 winning films from the inaugural TravelAbility Film Festival which are now streaming on the United Airlines inflight entertainment system. As part of the TravelAbility Film Festival, GLP’s film, "Accessible, Inclusive Travel on the Oregon Coast", is the grand prize winner of the top 10 winning stories now reaching travelers on United flights with seatback screens.
The Oregon Coast is leading the way in making travel more accessible and inclusive for everyone. From wheelchair-friendly beaches to accessible trails and thoughtful design in coastal towns, this stunning region is ensuring that people of all abilities can experience its beauty. Join us as we explore the incredible work being done to create a welcoming environment for all travelers—no matter their needs.
Selected by a panel that included representatives from Sundance and Cannes, these films highlight a diverse range of perspectives, from destination-led accessibility initiatives to stories of navigating on-the-ground travel barriers across destinations like the Oregon Coast, India, and the world’s first truly accessible luxury safari lodge in South Africa.
For the next six months, millions of people 30,000 feet in the air will have the chance to watch it. Travelers flying on United aircrafts equipped with seatback screens can discover stories that showcase accessible destinations, attractions, and lived travel experiences from around the world.
“This is an exciting milestone for the filmmakers whose work is now reaching millions of travelers, and an important step forward for accessible travel storytelling. By bringing these films into one of the world's largest travel environments, accessibility becomes part of the conversation travelers have with destinations long before they arrive”. - TravelAbility
Getting to tell this story was already a privilege. This is exactly why we do what we do at GLP Films: we believe stories have the power to shift how people see the world, and accessible travel storytelling deserves a spotlight this big.
“People of all abilities should be able to travel, everywhere. Yet many destinations do not know how to effectively implement accessible and inclusive travel plans into their offerings. The Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA) is doing just that. They partnered with GLP to help tell the story of the incredible work they have done to make travel inclusive and accessible for all. Great storytelling has an amazing ripple effect by inspiring, educating, and entertaining everyone. We are grateful to have had this opportunity to help share their story,” said Rob Holmes, Founder of GLP Films.
Why this film screening matters
The need to offer more inclusive, sustainable, and accessible travel is more important than ever before. By having the film shown on United Airlines, the importance of educating the travel industry on the need, importance and potential of accessible travel is crucial. Millions of people will watch this film and it will raise awareness of the need and importance of accessible, inclusive travel.
The accessible travel market is large, growing and diverse
In the U.S., 1 in 6 people lives with a significant disability. Globally, around 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the population, experience significant disabilities (WHO). As the baby boomer generation—currently the second-largest generation—continues to age, this number is expected to rise significantly.
Furthermore, it’s important to recognize that people with disabilities have diverse needs. These range from mobility, hearing, and vision impairments to cognitive and sensory challenges, many of which are invisible.
The accessible travel market is untapped and underserved
According to the 2020 Open Doors Organization Market Study, 70% of disabled people have taken at least one trip. Disabled travelers spent $58 billion in the U.S. market alone, a 339% increase since 2015 (2020 Open Doors Organization Market Study).
The accessible travel market represents an incredible opportunity for the tourism industry to welcome new visitors
Disabled people are traveling, and more would if they could find accessible travel options. Investing in accessible travel is both the right choice and a huge growth opportunity for destinations and businesses.
Arica Sears, Deputy Director - Oregon Coast Visitors Association says,
“This film gives us the opportunity to celebrate how far we've come while inspiring us to continue working together to ensure the Oregon Coast is a place where everyone can belong and experience its beauty.”
A special thank you to the Oregon Coast Visitors Association for entrusting GLP with this story. And, to TravelAbility and United Airlines, for recognizing that accessibility is an essential part of travel storytelling by giving these films a platform to reach travelers around the globe. That kind of support moves the entire industry forward. Congratulations again to all the winners!
Learn more about the TravelAbility Film Festival and this year's winners: https://lnkd.in/gpts8WG6.
To learn more about United Airlines, please visit: uafly.co/travelability