The meetings industry has entered a new era of event design, one that goes far beyond room sets, meal functions, and technology needs. Today’s meeting professionals are challenged to think more intentionally about the human experience and what attendees might need to fully participate, engage, and feel welcome.
Accessibility has become an increasingly important part of that conversation. Given considerations like mobility and sensory adjustments, plus accommodations for neurodiverse individuals and those with disabilities not immediately apparent, planners recognize that accessibility is not simply a compliance checklist—it is an important component of wellness, hospitality, and human-centered meeting and event design.
When destinations, hotels, and venues prioritize accessibility, they create better experiences for everyone attending the event. Across Michigan, destinations and hospitality partners embrace this mindset and work collaboratively to make meetings more inclusive and approachable for all attendees.
Eliminating Guesswork
Choose Lansing has been a leader in accessible tourism and group travel for nearly a decade. Through partnerships with area attractions, sensory-inclusive programming, front-line staff training, and detailed accessibility resources, the destination reduced uncertainty for visitors and meeting planners alike. Julie Pingston, president and CEO of Choose Lansing, believes Michigan has made tremendous strides through accessibility-focused initiatives supported by the joint Travel Michigan and Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) grant program, which enables host cities to conduct assessments through national experts, such as San Francisco-based Wheel the World and AbleVu of Mason, Michigan.
“These assessments provide visitors to our communities the capability to find pertinent information about facility entryways, heights of hotel beds, and the accessibility of restroom facilities, to then better understand our host cities in advance and make plans according to their needs,” Pingston explains.
That level of transparency has become increasingly important in site selection. Planners ask deeper questions during the sourcing process. They want to know if venues accommodate wheelchairs comfortably within meeting spaces. They want to understand sensory considerations, quiet-room options, transportation accessibility, and how a venue trains front-line staff to support attendees with visible and invisible disabilities.
At Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton, in Grand Rapids, accessibility conversations with meeting and event planners have become more tailored and proactive every year.
“We continue to see increasing demand for thoughtful, customized accessibility [considerations] in meetings and conventions, particularly around mobility, sensory needs, and inclusive environments for diverse attendee populations,” says Jennifer Shaler, regional director of sales for Grand Rapids-based AHC Hospitality, which operates Amway Grand Plaza.
The property works with planners to redesign meeting room layouts for wheelchair maneuverability, provide raised banquet tables for electric chairs, create sensory-friendly quiet rooms, and customize food and beverage experiences for attendees with specific mobility or dietary needs. Staff training also is an important part of the planning process to ensure teams understand the nuances of medical challenges, neurodivergence, and other conditions before groups arrive, Shaler says.
Beyond Logistics
These efforts reflect a broader industry shift toward designing meetings around people rather than simply logistics. For example, wellness elements increasingly are included in meetings and events, and wellness is intertwined with accessibility. Meeting attendees look for environments that reduce stress, increase comfort, and allow them to engage at their own pace. For some, that might mean a quiet space away from stimulation. For others, it might require clear accessibility information before arrival,
so they can travel with confidence.
Experience Grand Rapids has made accessibility a long-term priority. Most recently, they launched an AI-powered accessibility-focused online travel agent to reduce uncertainty for travelers and meetings and events professionals.
Destination Ann Arbor also has become a statewide leader in accessibility and inclusive travel. Ann Arbor recently became Michigan’s first Destination Verified community through Wheel the World, reflecting a collective commitment to accessibility across lodging, attractions, and public spaces.
Many Ann Arbor venues and attractions embrace both physical accessibility and sensory inclusion. For example, the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History offers sensory kits for visitors on the autism spectrum, while Decode Ann Arbor Escape Rooms incorporates tactile puzzles and adjustable lighting.
In addition, the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum continues to expand its “Access for All” initiatives with sensory-friendly programming and adaptive learning experiences. Many hotels throughout the city also offer adapted accommodations, including roll-in showers, hearing-accessible guest rooms, pool lifts, and other specialized equipment available upon request. These investments also help attract conferences and events to Ann Arbor, gatherings focused specifically on inclusion and adaptive experiences, such as the national 2027 Move United Education Conference.
No Boundaries
Michigan’s smaller resort and waterfront communities have found meaningful ways to improve accessibility for meeting attendees, too. The Saugatuck/Douglas area offers accessible lodging options, beach access, waterfront experiences, and walkable downtown amenities that allow attendees of all abilities to enjoy the destination. Oval Beach, one of Michigan’s iconic lakeside destinations, includes accessible parking, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant restrooms, and beach wheelchair availability to help more visitors experience the Lake Michigan shoreline.
It is important to note that many accessibility improvements benefit all attendees, not only those with disabilities. Clear signage, thoughtful room layouts, quiet spaces, wellness considerations, and accessible transportation create more comfortable and welcoming environments for everyone.
Michigan’s collaborative meetings industry helps lead that evolution. Meetings Michigan works alongside host cities, hotels, and event partners across the state committed to creating meetings that are more inclusive, thoughtful, and human-centered. Accessibility is not a finish line. It is an ongoing journey of listening, learning, and improving the attendee experience.
As planners look toward the future of meetings, accessibility will continue to play an important role in site selection, event design, and attendee engagement. Michigan destinations are ready to help planners navigate those conversations and create meetings where all attendees feel supported, valued, and able to fully participate.
Get Connected
Amway Grand Plaza, Curio Collection by Hilton
hilton.com / 616-774-2000
Choose Lansing
lansing.org / 800-648-6630
Destination Ann Arbor
annarbor.org / 800-888-9487
Experience Grand Rapids
experiencegr.com / 877-VISIT-GR
Michigan Economic Development Corp.
michiganbusiness.org / 888-522-0103
Saugatuck/Douglas Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
saugatuck.com / 269-857-1701
