Successful SATH 8TH World Congress Wraps Up

(Miami, Fl) – Grace Kim Kanoy and Cary Kanoy of Core Expeditions attended the SATH World Congress for Travelers with Disabilities and the Mature on January 14-18, 2004 at Hilton Miami Airport Hotel, Miami, Florida. This is the Disability Travel market’s premier educational event. This annual gathering attracts about 300 progressive travel professionals who are finding out new ways to be profitable in these challenging times.

This year’s them was “Catch the Spirit… Tap the Market,” and recognized the efforts of Suzanne D. Cook, Senior VP, Travel Industry Association of America (TIA), the recipient of The SATH Access to Freedom Award for 2004.  Also addressing the Congress was Bob Sharak, Executive Director of CLIA, who discussed how the cruise industry is responding to the growing market for travelers with disabilities.

The World Congress was attended by many veteran travel agents, tour operators and suppliers as well as many newcomers. Each year brings more awareness of this “niche” market of 54 million Americans. Destinations, cruise lines, attractions, hotels, and airlines are responding to meet the special needs of travelers with hearing, vision, mobility, cognitive and hidden impairments.

The Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality (SATH) is a non-profit educational organization that has actively represented travelers with disabilities and the mature and educates the travel, tourism and hospitality industry on becoming more accessible for person with disabilities. SATH works vigorously for the creation of a barrier-free environment (architectural and attitudinal) throughout all segments of the travel and tourism industry, in the United States and abroad. The Society’s efforts bore fruit in the access section of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and in the Air Carriers Access Act.

To raise awareness and provide detailed training on how to serve and market to travelers with disabilities, SATH organizes conferences and has sponsored the World Congress of Travelers with Disabilities and the Mature since 1997.  Travel professionals like Core Expeditions on completion of the Congress gain not only knowledge about disability travel and how to serve them efficiently, but also how to remain current on the latest developments in this segment. Contact Grace Kanoy at Core Expeditions for your adventure travel plans to South America. For additional information about SATH, please call 212-447-7284 or visit SATH’s web site at www.sath.org