Suzanne Edwards

Suzanne is the Accessibility Standards Lead at Airbnb, creating and driving the company’s strategy to make travel more accessible. Suzanne has always been a keen traveler, but after an accident in 2011 left her with a spinal cord injury, she was unable to explore the world in the same way as before. Motivated by the many barriers to travel she faced, she joined accessible travel startup Accomable, which was acquired by Airbnb in November 2017.

Travel can be extremely challenging for people with accessibility needs, as accessibility can mean different things to different people. Simply, there is a huge need for detailed accessibility information to help these travelers feel confident something will work for them. In addition to this, accessibility-oriented travel accommodation can often be uninspiring and sterile. Following the launch of Airbnb Categories in 2021, Suzanne saw an opportunity to build a collection of homes designed for guests with mobility needs. She pitched the idea to Airbnb executives and the Adapted category was greenlit.

Launched in November 2022, the Adapted Category can be accessed in one click from the Airbnb homepage and has 1,100+ listings around the world, all featuring verified step-free features and at least one bathroom modification such as a grab bar or shower seat.

To tackle the issue of accuracy, the team partnered with Matterport, a leading spatial data company, to conduct 3D scans in each of the homes eligible for the category. The 3D scans confirm listings’ accessibility features and display key details like door widths. Matterport also produces a 2D floor plan of the listing, which can provide guests a better understanding of the listing layout.

To ensure they would inspire guests to want to travel, the team made sure that the Adapted Category included some of the most unique homes in the travel sector, including treehouses, cabins, farm stays and villas. Many of the homes include beautifully designed interiors that seamlessly integrate accessibility features.

Suzanne is an Airbnb host in southwest England. She loves welcoming guests with accessibility needs to her community and sharing her favourite places – in particular the beaches and great sunset spots! She is also a member of the English Para Surf Team and enjoys traveling as well as exploring Devon and Cornwall.