Visit Lake Charles (VLC) is proud to announce a new partnership with Wheel the World, a global organization dedicated to making travel more accessible and inclusive for people of all abilities.  

Taylor Beard Stanley, vice president of sales at Visit Lake Charles, led the effort by spending several months researching accessibility partners, connecting with the Wheel the World team and working closely with them to bring this collaboration to Southwest Louisiana. 

“Accessibility is about more than just checking a box,” said Beard Stanley. “This partnership gives us the tools to help support our hospitality partners in ways that make a real difference for both visitors and residents.”

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Wheel the World mapper takes a photo of a Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lake Charles hotel room for his records.

Wheel the World recently completed accessibility assessments for 20 Southwest Louisiana businesses, identifying opportunities to enhance inclusion across attractions, accommodations, restaurants, and experiences. Participating businesses included: 121 Artisan Bistro, Area 337, Candlewood Suites Lake Charles, Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point, Crying Eagle Lakefront, Darrell's Famous Poboys, Doubletree by Hilton Sulphur Lake Charles, Hampton Inn Lake Charles, Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lake Charles, Imperial Calcasieu Museum, Luna Bar & Grill (Downtown), Pasta Lab, Pat’s of Henderson, Port Wonder (The Children's Museum of Southwest Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries’ Nature & Science Center), Sam Houston Jones State Park, Seafood Palace, The Max, Tru by Hilton Lake Charles, and The Mulberry Hotel. 

Each participating business will receive an individual accessibility report, access to staff training through Wheel the World’s Accessibility Academy, and an Accessibility Verified seal to indicate that the location has been evaluated by accessibility professionals. These resources give partners practical tools to better serve travelers with disabilities. 

“By making Louisiana’s Playground more accessible, we are opening doors for more visitors to choose Southwest Louisiana,” said Kyle Edmiston, president and CEO of Visit Lake Charles. “It is an investment that benefits all of us. We are supporting our visitors, strengthening businesses, and growing our long-term economy.”

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Mapper measures the height of the bench at the Imperial Calcasieu Museum.

Wheel the World’s expertise provides Visit Lake Charles with verified, on-the-ground accessibility information, helping local partners create more inclusive experiences. A dedicated Visit Lake Charles landing page will also be featured on Wheel the World’s website, giving travelers centralized access to verified accessibility information, participating listings and helpful planning resources. 

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About Visit Lake Charles 
Visit Lake Charles, the official destination marketing organization for Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana, is the only organization in Southwest Louisiana providing advocacy, promotion and education for the tourism industry. For more information on Visit Lake Charles and things to see and do in Louisiana’s Playground, log on to VisitLakeCharles.org.