2025 Digital Accessibility Index
Hospitality
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Accessibility barriers can put travel plans on hold
For many travelers, booking a trip starts online — but for people with disabilities, accessibility barriers on travel and hospitality websites can make planning a frustrating, if not impossible, experience.
One major challenge is color contrast. Travel and hospitality websites had one of the highest rates of contrast violations per page, making it difficult for users with low vision to read hotel descriptions, navigate booking forms, or understand key travel details.
“Travel sites can do a lot of things well. But if the booking process is clunky, that's what is going to stick in everybody's mind.”
— Maxwell Ivey AudioEye A11iance Member
Other barriers, like missing alt text on images, vague links, and inaccessible forms, can make it harder for travelers to compare accommodations, book reservations, or contact customer service. When accessibility isn’t prioritized, people with disabilities are left with fewer travel options and a less seamless experience.
41%
of travel and hospitality pages made it hard for keyboard-only users to navigate sites, look up information, or make reservations
85
color contrast issues per page, which can make it difficult for people with low vision — including aging travelers — to fully use or enjoy sites.
INDUSTRY COMPARISON
Where do travel and hospitality websites fall short?
We scanned 53,230 pages across 1,609 travel and hospitality websites, focusing on key areas like booking systems, amenity descriptions, and reservation confirmations.
Hospitality sites had some of the highest color contrast issues per page (85.3) — a critical challenge for travelers with visual impairments who rely on clear text and button visibility to book accommodations, explore amenities, and navigate reservation forms.
Missing alt text can limit traveler confidence
Most travelers rely on photos of amenities or rooms to make booking decisions, yet travel and hospitality sites had an average of 26.9 inaccessible images per page — making it harder for people with visual disabilities to choose where to stay, what to do, and where to eat.
Poor color contrast can obscure essential travel details
The average travel and hospitality page had 85.3 unique violations of WCAG’s minimum color contrast requirements. Poor color contrast can make it difficult for people with visual disabilities to navigate between pages, read about amenities, or complete booking forms.
Keyboard accessibility barriers can limit site navigation
Travel and hospitality websites had an average of 7.3 keyboard accessibility violations per page — making it harder for travelers to navigate between pages or complete booking forms.
Unclear links can disrupt travel planning
The average hospitality page had 5.4 inaccessible links, which can make it harder for people with disabilities to explore hotel amenities, book accommodations, or access contact information.
Inaccessible forms can make it hard to book travel or dining
Travel and hospitality websites had 4.0 inaccessible forms, labels, and buttons per page — making it difficult for travelers with visual or cognitive disabilities to independently book accommodations, make dining reservations, or complete other essential travel tasks.
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INFOGRAPHIC
Digital Accessibility for Hospitality Brands
Get the latest insights into the accessibility of travel and hospitality sites.
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