Lodge manager reviewing accessibility features with ATS assessor

Why Third-Party Verification Changes the Conversation

Disabled travellers have learned, through repeated experience, that operator self-assessments are unreliable. A property describes itself as “fully accessible” and delivers a room with a step at the bathroom door and a shower with a lip. Another says “accessible rooms available on request” - which means they moved the furniture.

The result: disabled travellers discount operator claims almost entirely and rely on community word-of-mouth, which is slow, fragmented, and geographic. ATS creates a third option - a credible, consistent, third-party verified score that travellers can trust because it was produced independently.

What a Listing Does for Your Property

Properties listed on ATS are reaching the travellers who are actively searching for what they offer. Disabled travellers and their travel companions represent a significant and underserved market segment. They plan further in advance, travel in larger groups, stay longer, and spend more per trip than average - because they have to. They also have fewer options than most travellers, which means a well-verified accessible property earns outsized loyalty.

An ATS listing gives your property a specific, credible signal in search results and on the platform. It answers the questions disabled travellers are already asking - before they have to ask them.

How to Apply

To submit your property for assessment and listing, contact us at listings@accessibletravelsa.com with your property name, location, and a brief description of your current accessibility features. We will respond within 3–5 business days with the assessment process and current availability.

FAQ

PropertyListingsforOperators-FAQs

The verification process involves a structured physical assessment of your property against the ATS scoring framework. This covers the full access chain: arrival and parking, entrance and reception, lifts and corridors, bedrooms and bathrooms, communal spaces, and any outdoor areas included in the guest experience. The assessor produces a written report and photographic record. The final score is calculated against the framework and cannot be adjusted for commercial reasons.

The physical assessment typically takes half a day for a standard accommodation property. The scoring, report, and listing process takes 7–10 business days after the assessment. You will receive the full report before publication, with an opportunity to request a review if you believe any measurement or observation is inaccurate.

A lower score is not the end of the process - it is information. Some operators use the assessment to prioritise accessibility improvements. Once improvements are made, a re-assessment can be scheduled. We also publish listings for properties that score in the 55–70 range, provided the 'Not suitable for' section is honest and complete. A truthful listing at 62 is more valuable to travellers than no listing at all.

Operators can provide descriptions, photographs, and contact information. The ATS score and the 'Not suitable for' section are determined by the assessor and cannot be edited by the operator. This is non-negotiable - it is the basis of traveller trust in the platform.

There is a verification fee that covers the assessment, report, and listing. The fee is fixed and does not vary based on your score. We do not offer paid placement or premium positioning - your listing position is determined by score and destination relevance, not by what you pay us.

We assess and list hotels, boutique guesthouses, self-catering properties, bush lodges, safari camps, and game reserve rest camps. We do not currently list serviced apartments, hostels, or camping sites, though this may change as the platform grows.

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