Visit Bellevue is taking meaningful steps to ensure that travel experiences in the city are accessible to all through a new partnership with Wheel the World (WTW) - a global platform dedicated to making travel easier and more inclusive for people with disabilities. Wheel the World was founded in 2018 by Alvaro Silberstein and Camilo Navarro, and is widely cited as a trailblazer in accessible travel.
Through the initial phase of the partnership, 25 Bellevue businesses, such as hotels, restaurants, retailers, parks, and attractions, have been verified by WTW for accessibility. Visit Bellevue sponsors the cost of participation for partners, while the team at Wheel the World manages the program logistics, site coordination, accessibility assessments, and training through its Wheel the World Academy. The team at Wheel the World will lead all the coordination between partners and strategic planning for the program.
Site Visits to Verify Businesses for Accessibility
Over the summer, Visit Bellevue's 2025 intern Tara Thirumurthy played an integral role in verifying businesses and coordinating on-site assessments with the WTW team.
Hi! My name is Tara Thirumurthy, and I am a Summer 2025 Intern for Visit Bellevue. One of my main projects is the Wheel the World partnership, working on Visit Bellevue’s commitment to accessibility for all. Not only have I been a part of the strategic discussions to plan logistics and marketing initiatives, but I have also attended many of the site visits. Working with Wheel the World this past summer has provided me with fresh perspectives and a new lens through which I view the world. Prior to my internship, I had a minimal understanding of accessibility. I am thankful that Wheel the World offers training through their virtual academy, which allowed me to learn more about accessible tourism.
She explains how the site-visits are completed at partner businesses, led by a "mapper."
Wheel The World assigns a mapper, an individual who conducts the site visit and creates a corresponding accessibility report. Wheel The World will also provide training to partners through their virtual platform, Wheel the World Academy. Visit Bellevue and Wheel the World will promote these 25 businesses through their marketing and itineraries.
During each site visit, I observed as the mapper would measure various features like the heights and widths of doors, desks, chairs, tables, host stands, and many more. It was fascinating to see how each feature was assessed, measured, and inputted into their app. I especially enjoyed attending the hotel site visits because it was interesting to tour each room and amenity to observe the various accessible features that were included. It was incredibly heartwarming to see how much thought went into creating the spaces to ensure that every single guest could enjoy their experience. I look forward to seeing what comes next as Visit Bellevue and Wheel the World verify more businesses in 2026!
Booking with Wheel the World
Travelers can book directly through the Wheel the World platform, which offers insight into guaranteed accessibility features for the traveler. The platform is seamlessly integrated with Expedia, which ensures that availability and rates are constantly updated. This integration also keeps the process streamlined for partners, while making it simple for travelers to search for verified accessible options. Wheel the World also personally contacts the hotel to confirm all details and verify that the accessible room is available for travelers. If a traveler needs to modify or cancel their reservation, they can reach out to Wheel the World directly.
What's Next for Wheel the World & Visit Bellevue
With 25 businesses already verified, Visit Bellevue and Wheel the World are working on producing owned and earned content surrounding the various offerings we uncovered for people with disabilities. Did you know that Lucky Strike has adaptive bowling? Visit Bellevue is also looking to verify more businesses in 2026. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Megan Adams, our Director of Destination Stewardship and Community Relations.
Club Seltzer Club Seltzer is a lively, one-of-a-kind bar dedicated to all things seltzer in the…
Author
Visit Bellevue
Known as a "Smart City" and a "City in a Park," Bellevue is conveniently located 18 miles from SEA Airport. Bellevue offers a free electric shuttle program connecting downtown, a new light rail system, and proximity to three national parks. Kayakers, paddleboarders, jet skis and boats coexist on the lakes and wetlands, while the downtown offers a modern skyline, a booming multicultural and multilingual culinary scene, inventive entertainment, and the fashion capital of the Pacific Northwest. The high tech and retail industries drive the city's rapid growth, and it remains humble to the evergreen beauty of the wild Pacific Northwest.
