Mike Clapper shares his personal journey from being stranded on a cruise ship due to accessibility challenges to building a business that helps hospitality brands unlock a $100–500B untapped market. In this episode, he reveals why accessibility is more than compliance, it’s a powerful growth multiplier that drives longer stays, bigger spending, and unforgettable guest experiences.

Learn how human-centered design, elevated guest service, and scalable systems can transform your property and brand. Mike also dives into universal design principles for aging populations, leveraging technology and AI, and turning empathy into real business results.

Whether you’re an investor, developer, or hospitality professional, this episode shows how serving everyone isn’t just the right thing, it’s profitable.

Mike Clapper Episode Timeline

00:00 – 02:00 | Introduction Host introduces Mike Clapper as an advocate for universal and human-centric design in hospitality. Emphasis on accessibility as both a people-first approach and a business opportunity.

02:00 – 06:00 | Personal Story / Cruise Mishap Mike recounts being stranded on a cruise ship in Reykjavik due to inaccessible gangway. Highlights the gap between empathy and execution in accessibility. This experience sparks his business idea.

06:00 – 09:00 | Disability Statistics & Market Opportunity 1 in 4 people have a disability (physical, sensory, neurodiverse, allergies). $100B annual market in the U.S.; $500B potential globally factoring aging population. Disabled travelers spend 1.7x more, stay 2.9x longer, and bring companions.

09:00 – 13:00 | Turning Pain into a Business and Human Play Accessibility framed as a growth multiplier, not a compliance checkbox. Importance of combining personal experience + business acumen for consulting success.

13:00 – 18:00 | The 3 Pillars of Accessibility in Hospitality Design That Includes – accessible rooms, door openers, zero-threshold entries. Experience That Elevates – staff training, communication, seamless guest experience. Systems That Scale – tech/AI for reservations, pre-stay communication, guest needs.

18:00 – 22:00 | Senior Living & Aging Population Principles of universal design for residential and senior living spaces. Examples: lower countertops, wider corridors, thoughtful bathroom design.

22:00 – 27:00 | ROI Insights & Market Strategy Disabled travelers as lucrative market segment. Accessibility is a profit multiplier impacting room revenue, F&B, spa, and other services. Importance of branding, marketing, and online-to-offline positioning for accessible properties.

27:00 – 32:00 | Mindset, Faith, and Life Lessons Mike’s upbringing with cerebral palsy shaped solution-oriented mindset. Faith over fear as personal philosophy. Turning disadvantages into unique advantages in business and life.

32:00 – 35:00 | Closing / Call to Action Key message: accessibility benefits everyone, both ethically and financially. Mike shares contact info and thought leadership platforms:

🎙 Eugen Bold shares his thoughts and experiences, offering valuable insights.

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