Continental Airlines Leads way for Customers with Disabilities

With several airline companies still struggling to stay afloat and desparately trying to figure out ways to save money, Continental Airlines has learned the value of marketing to customers with disabilities and is considered the leader in today's disability market. The reason for this is the recent creation of the Customers with Disabilities Advisory Board (CDAB). In 2008, with the help and dedication of Bill Burnell, the manager of Customer First & Regulatory Programs for Continental Arlines in Houston, the CDAB was born with a goal of improving the overall airport/airline expereince for its guests with disabilities. By taking better care of these special needs travelers and catering to thier needs, Continental hopes to attract more of these cutomers. The CDAB has met three times since its inception and has already made great progress, attracting the interest and praise of airport managers, airline administrators, and federal agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The entire board, made up of people with a variety of disabilities from vision impairment to paraplegia, is excited about the future of airline travel and the prgress made at Continental. With any luck, other airlines will follow suit in the near future. And with Continental, now the top rated airline in customer service for people with disabilities, leading the way, they hope to see the progress spread thorughout the entire airline industry.

Brag About Your Access

So we have talked about a lot of things pertaining to people with disabilities and marketing to PWD, but we have not talked about businesses that are already accessibile and maybe are not seeing the benfit of it. The number one reason for this to happen is because people will spend a lot of time and money on being sure they are up to code but then they don't tell anyone. If your business is accessible or you have recently made the effort to be accessible, the first thing you should do is start bragging about your great access. IF you donlt tell anyone, how will they know? You can even start advertising as such. It's as simple as adding a wheelchair symbol or a few extra words to your current print advertising. Remember that PWD spend about $35 billion annually on dining out.

For more on how to market to people with disabilities contact me anytime (970) 846-9859
craigkennedy@ckconsultingonline.com

Consumers with Disabilities - Did you know?

So i have given you a lot of information on how and why to market to people with disabilities over the past fewe months and i would just like to remind everyone a few important things about this consumer market that is the fastest growing and largest untapped consumer makret in the world today.

1. People with Disabilities (PWD) spend $35 billion annually dining out and dine out at least once per week
2. PWD (55 million in the US) are very brand loyal customers
3. 69% of adults with disabilities (21+ million people) have traveled at least once in the past two years
4. PWD = over 18% of our population. That's 5% more than our Hispanic population which is our largest ethnic, racial, or minority group
5. The total travel market in the United States amounts to more than $1.2 trillion. PWD spend $13.6 billion per year on travel. That's almost 10% of the entire travle industry!

If you already know these things and are not marketing to PWD we need to talk!

CK Consulting offers a FREE accessibility quiz, affordable accessibility planning & ADA Inspections, and disability marketing development http://www.ckconsultingonline.com