What Wheel the World does

Wheel the World is a travel accessibility platform that enables travelers with disabilities and older adults to search, verify, and book accessible hotels, group trips, cruises, multi-day itineraries, transportation, and activities across more than 200 destinations and 8,000+ travel services globally. The company's core differentiator is its proprietary Accessibility Mapping System (AMS), which collects and verifies over 200 accessibility data points per property — including door widths, step-free paths, roll-in showers, grab bars, and ramps — through on-the-ground assessment rather than self-reported information. This verified data set powers an Accessibility Profile matching system that personalizes recommendations based on mobility, vision, hearing, and sensory needs, with AI-powered personalization features currently in development.

The platform operates a hybrid go-to-market model. On the consumer side, it runs a direct booking marketplace at wheeltheworld.com earning commissions on accessible hotel bookings and per-person revenue on fully planned group tours priced from $1,400 to $5,380+, with buy-now-pay-later options through Affirm and Klarna. On the B2B side, Wheel the World contracts with destination marketing organizations and tourism boards (Travel Oregon, Sonoma County Tourism, Visit Bellevue, Visit Lake Charles, Destination Door County, Hendricks County) to deliver large-scale accessibility verification programs, staff training through its Accessibility Academy, and an "Accessibility Verified" certification with associated A11y Verified badge. Notable milestones include Oregon becoming the first accessibility-verified state (a two-year engagement covering 750+ businesses and $9M in grants) and partnerships with Los Angeles and Seattle ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.

Wheel the World was founded in 2016 in Chile by Alvaro Silberstein (CEO) and Camilo Navarro (COO), with Federico Carossino as CTO, and is headquartered at 111 Maiden Lane in San Francisco, California. The company has raised approximately $19.5M in total funding across seed, pre-Series A, and a February 2026 Series A co-led by Enable Ventures and Kayyak Ventures, with strategic participation from former Expedia CEO Erik Blachford and former Booking.com CEO Gillian Tans. The company serves markets across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Africa, and has been recognized as a PhocusWire Hot 25 Travel Startup (2022) and a Fast Company Most Innovative Company in Travel.

Name

Wheel the World

Legal name

Wheel the World, Inc.

Website

https://wheeltheworld.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Wheel the World is a travel platform that books accessible hotels, group trips, cruises, and transportation for travelers with disabilities and older adults, backed by a proprietary system that verifies over 200 accessibility data points per property across 200+ destinations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Accessible Travel Services

NAICS

Special Needs Transportation (485991)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Accessible Ride-Hailing (WAV/ADA) & Assisted Mobility Platforms (TLAFAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ground Transportation Booking Platforms (Rail/Bus/Ferry) (BPAMAIAD)

Keywords

• Accessible travel platform
• Disability tourism booking
• Accessible hotel booking
• Accessible group tours
• Inclusive travel services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Group Tours and Multi-day Trip Packages: Wheel the World sells fully planned accessible group tours and multi-day trip packages that include accessible accommodations, transportation, guided activities, and meals. Examples include the Colorado Adventure Fall Escape (from $2,990 per person), Madrid and Barcelona tour (from $5,380 per person), Costa Rica Accessible Fall Group Tour (from $3,720 per person), and South Africa Expedition (from $4,500 per person). Revenue is generated on a per-person, per-trip basis with deposit and installment payment options.
2. Accessible Hotel Booking Commission: The platform enables travelers to book accessible hotel rooms directly, earning commissions on bookings facilitated through the marketplace. The platform guarantees the accessible room booked matches what is confirmed at check-in, adding trust and reducing friction in the booking process.
3. B2B Accessibility Verification Services: Wheel the World provides contracted accessibility assessment and verification services to destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and tourism boards. These partnerships involve on-the-ground mapping of businesses, generation of verified accessibility data, and the Accessibility Verified designation program for destinations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wheel the World is a global travel platform that enables travelers with disabilities and older adults to search, plan, and book accessible hotels, group trips, multi-day tours, cruises, transportation, and activities. Every listing is backed by a proprietary Accessibility Mapping System that collects over 200 verified accessibility data points per property through on-the-ground assessments. The platform combines an Accessibility Profile matching system with verified group tours and a B2B Accessibility Verified certification program for destinations.

Product overview

Wheel the World is a travel accessibility platform consisting of multiple interconnected products and features. The core offerings include an Accessible Hotels booking platform, Accessible Group Trips, Accessible Transportation, Accessible Multi-day Trips, Accessible Things to Do, and Accessible Cruises—all backed by the proprietary Accessibility Mapping System (AMS) that collects over 200 verified data points per property. The platform is enhanced by the Accessibility Profile, which personalizes recommendations based on user needs, and the Accessibility Verified Program, which certifies destinations and properties that meet rigorous accessibility standards after in-person assessments. Additional features include Accessibility Academy for partner staff training and 24/7 Travel Expert Support. The platform covers over 200 destinations and 8,000 travel services globally, with recent expansion of AI-powered features for personalized travel planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Accessible Hotels Booking Booking platform for accessible hotel rooms with verified accessibility information covering 200+ data points per property (roll-in showers, grab bars, door widths, step-free access). Targeted at travelers with disabilities and older adults.
• Accessible Group Trips Fully planned multi-day accessible group tours including accessible accommodations, transportation, activities, certified bilingual guides, accessible venues, and wheelchair-accessible vehicles with lifts. Targeted at travelers with disabilities seeking guided experiences.
• Accessible Transportation Booking platform for adapted vehicles with ramps or lifts, including wheelchair-accessible taxis, shuttles, and rideshare options (Uber WAV, Lyft WAV), plus equipment rentals such as beach wheelchairs or hoists.
• Accessible Multi-day Trips Fully planned private, fully accessible itineraries including lodging, transportation, and experiences, all verified for accessibility standards.
• Accessible Things to Do Accessible activities and experiences verified for accessibility, including city tours, outdoor adventures, and cultural experiences tailored to different mobility levels.
• Accessible Cruises Accessible cruise bookings with guaranteed accessible staterooms, barrier-free venues, and accessible ports for travelers with disabilities.
• Accessibility Verified Program B2B certification program in which Wheel the World conducts contracted on-the-ground accessibility assessments of destinations and properties against over 200 criteria, awards an A11y Verified badge, and trains staff via the Accessibility Academy. Purchased by destination marketing organizations and tourism boards to certify destinations as 'Accessibility Verified.'

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 verified accessibility data points collected per property
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration18 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core, moderate and flagship.

• The Rally Hotel (Denver)minorOthers · 9 April 2026The Rally Hotel in Denver partners with Wheel the World to provide verified accessible stays as part of its ESG commitments and inclusive hospitality programming, being named in Earth Month activations and social impact initiatives.
• Sonoma County TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2026Sonoma County Tourism partnered with Wheel the World to verify local businesses' accessibility features including accessible parking, bathrooms, and facilities. Participating businesses include Timber Cove Resort, Safari West, and Inn at Occidental. The initiative is part of the 'Wine Country for All of Us' campaign to make Sonoma County an inclusive, accessible destination.
• Hendricks County (Indiana)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2026Hendricks County in Indiana partnered with Wheel the World through a $17,000 initiative called CARE to Connect, surveying local businesses for accessibility standards with the goal of becoming a verified accessible travel destination. The verification process allows listed businesses and the county to be recognized on Wheel the World's website.
• Los Angeles (FIFA World Cup 2026)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Wheel the World partnered with Los Angeles to map out accessible experiences across the city ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026, providing verified accessibility details for stadium visits, fan festivals, and city travel. The partnership includes detailed accessibility information for Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) and public transportation options.
• Seattle (FIFA World Cup 2026)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Wheel the World partnered with Seattle to map out accessible journeys verified by its experts for FIFA World Cup 2026, including mapping the Unity Loop circuit connecting fans to top neighborhoods with accessible routes, verified accessible hotel listings, and match-day transit planning with accessibility in mind.
• Visit Lake CharlesmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2025Visit Lake Charles partnered with Wheel the World to conduct accessibility assessments at 20 businesses across Southwest Louisiana, generating local media coverage and aiming to improve navigation and access for travelers with disabilities.
• Visit BellevuecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025Visit Bellevue partnered with Wheel the World to enhance accessibility information for travelers visiting Bellevue, Washington. The collaboration aims to provide verified accessibility data for hotels, attractions, and public spaces, promoting inclusive tourism in the Pacific Northwest region.
• Travel OregonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2025A two-year collaborative effort between Travel Oregon and Wheel the World involving over 750 local businesses and $9 million in grants, resulting in Oregon becoming the first 'Accessibility Verified' state. Wheel the World conducted comprehensive on-the-ground assessments of hospitality businesses across the state, training staff through its Accessibility Academy.
• Destination Door CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Destination Door County partnered with Wheel the World to conduct comprehensive accessibility assessments of 70 sites countywide. Forty businesses, parks, and cultural institutions completed assessments in the first round, collecting over 200 data points per site on building access, parking, pathways, seating, signage, and restrooms. A second round of assessments was planned for May.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• KultureCity: KultureCity provides sensory accessibility certification and training for venues, stadiums, and events, overlapping with Wheel the World's Accessibility Verified certification program and FIFA 2026 stadium partnerships.
• Wingz: Wingz offers pre-scheduled, accessible airport and local rideshare service — directly listed as a transportation integration partner in Wheel the World's FIFA 2026 destination pages, illustrating how accessible ride-hail is a shared competitive layer.
• Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certified (RHFAC): RHFAC is a building-level accessibility rating and certification program with a similar mission to Wheel the World's destination verification work, though more focused on built-environment rating than travel marketplace distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Expedia: A major online travel agency offering hotels, flights, packages, and activities with accessibility filtering capabilities. Competes broadly with Wheel the World's marketplace and is connected via former CEO Erik Blachford, who invested in Wheel the World's Series A.
• Airbnb: Global short-stay rental marketplace that has expanded accessibility search filters and adapted-listing categories. While its supply model is different, Airbnb captures a meaningful share of accessible-stay demand that could otherwise route through Wheel the World.
• Booking.com: The world's largest online accommodation platform, which has invested heavily in accessibility filters and accessibility property data. It competes at the demand-acquisition layer with a vastly larger inventory but largely self-reported accessibility information.
• Uber WAV: Uber's wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) product and Uber Assist address the same accessible ground transportation need that Wheel the World's transportation offering serves, but at much greater geographic scale and driver supply.
• Lyft Access Mode / WAV: Lyft's accessible ride options (including wheelchair-accessible vehicles) compete directly with Wheel the World's accessible transportation integration, especially in US cities where both services are available.

Direct peers

• AccessibleGO: AccessibleGO is a direct competitor operating an accessible hotel and travel booking marketplace for travelers with disabilities, sharing the same D2C hotel-commission revenue model and overlapping customer base of wheelchair users and mobility-impaired travelers.
• Sage Traveling: Sage Traveling provides accessible guided tours and accessible trip planning services in European cities, closely overlapping with Wheel the World's multi-day group-tour and accessibility-verification offerings for disabled travelers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gowheeltheworld
• Xx.com/wheeltheworld
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wheeltheworld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds14 records

Investors25 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wheel the World