2026 Newsmakers of the Year: John Sage - Accessible Travel Solutions, Sage Traveling

The Groups Today “Newsmakers of the Year” initiative recognizes the individuals, organizations, associations, and companies that have recently made the biggest impact on the group travel industry. From tour operators and advisors to destinations, suppliers, and industry leaders, this feature spotlights those who’ve shaped important conversations, introduced new ideas, closed impressive deals, or drove meaningful change within the group travel space.

Keep reading to learn more about 2026 Newsmaker, John Sage (Accessible Travel Solutions and Sage Traveling)!

John Sage, Founder & CEO, Accessible Travel Solutions and Sage Traveling, acknowledges that the industry has made meaningful progress in accessibility, but many organizations still struggle with how to move from good intentions to practical implementation. To help solve that challenge, he developed The Sage Accessible Travel Academy™ and Sage Certified™.  

Photo courtesy of Accessible Travel Solutions.

The Academy provides practical, role-specific education that helps destination managers, hotel and attraction staff, travel advisors, and event organizers better understand accessibility and improve the experiences they deliver, while Sage Certified™ provides a structured framework for organizations to assess, improve, and demonstrate their commitment to accessibility.

“Accessibility represents one of the largest underserved opportunities in the global travel industry. More than one billion people worldwide live with a disability, yet many still encounter unnecessary barriers when planning and experiencing travel,” Sage said. “My vision is a global travel industry where accessibility is seamlessly integrated into mainstream travel rather than treated as a specialty offering or afterthought. When accessibility is addressed proactively, travelers benefit, businesses benefit, and destinations become stronger and more competitive.”

Photo courtesy of Jens Jeske.

Built upon more than 200,000 hours of accessible trip planning experience and insights gained from working in more than 50 countries, these programs help shift accessibility from a compliance-focused conversation to a business, guest experience, and operational priority, providing organizations with practical tools, measurable standards, and a pathway for continuous improvement.

“Our goal is simple: make accessibility easier to understand, easier to implement, and easier to communicate, so more organizations can confidently serve travelers with disabilities and older adults.”

Accessible group travel, Sage explained, has always been about more than visiting a destination—it’s about creating opportunities, building confidence, and demonstrating what is possible.

“Many of our travelers have spent years questioning whether travel was still available to them,” he shared. “Through thoughtfully planned accessible experiences, we have seen travelers gain confidence, reconnect with their sense of adventure, and visit places they never thought they would experience.”

Photo courtesy of Accessible Travel Solutions.

While there is still important work ahead, Sage is encouraged by the momentum he’s seeing across the industry.

“More organizations are recognizing that accessibility is both the right thing to do and a significant opportunity for growth and innovation,” he said. “The future of travel should be accessible to everyone.”

Click here to read more from the rest of Groups Today’s 2026 Newsmakers of the Year.

Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for Groups Today.

Main photo courtesy of Accessible Travel Solutions.