Airbnb Acquires Ad Tech Startup Accomable for Disabled Users

Airbnb has purchased a British travel website that is designed for travellers with disabilities.

‘Accomable’ had been founded two years ago by two entrepreneurs with spinal muscular atrophy. It has been bought by the US brand for an undisclosed sum. It works in a way that resembles that of Airbnb.

It actually permits homeowners to rent out rooms or complete properties to tourists on a short-term basis.

But it only portrays rentals with step-free access and other accessibility features.

Following this deal the listings of Accomable would be merged with Airbnb. And the company's team would be shifting to the Airbnb office in the United Kingdom and its chief executive Srin Madipalli would be relocating to San Francisco in the brand new role of product manager of accessibility.

Airbnb has gradually grown to become one of the planet's most valuable private tech companies and show listings appropriate for disabled guests.

However Accomable permits users to filter listings in a much greater detail.

This year a study revealed that hosts of Airbnb were more likely to reject disabled guests even the ones that had advertised their lets as a wheelchair friendly.

Research from Rutgers University discovered that the hosts had approved 75% of guests without a disability and this had dropped to 43% for those with cerebral palsy and 25% for people with spinal chord damage.

Currently Accomable hosts bookings for as many as 1,100 properties in 60 nations with staff members choosing accommodation providing features like wheelchair access, hoists and roll-in showers.

Mr. Madipalli who is a former City lawyer mentioned that the demand for Accomable houses had surpassed its tiny team.

He feels that the problem is across the entire sector and there is complete absence of provision and their vision is to enable Airbnb to become more accessible and reach out to the community at large that they have built.

Within 2020 about 25% of tourism spending in Europe is estimated to be sourced from those with accessibility requirements as per the European Commission.