BCD Travel Accessibility Statement

At BCD Travel, we are committed to ensuring that our services provide access to all users throughout, including those with disabilities. To achieve this goal, we have implemented the following measures on our web pages:

  • Integration into Internal Policies:
    • We have embedded accessibility considerations for users throughout our internal policies, ensuring that accessibility is a fundamental aspect of our operations and decision-making processes. We regularly update these policies to conform to the latest W3C standards and relevant guidelines.
  • Continual Staff Training:
    • Our staff receives ongoing accessibility training, empowering them with the knowledge and skills needed to create accessible content and provide excellent service to all users throughout. This training includes mobile interface design and applicable visual software functionality.
  • Clear Goals and Responsibilities:
    •  We assign clear accessibility goals and responsibilities within our organization, ensuring that accessibility remains a priority at all levels.

Conformance Status

BCD Travel adheres to the requirements of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines WCAG 2.1 level AA, section 508 and EN 301 549. While we are partially conformant, we continuously strive to improve accessibility across our digital platforms. We regularly update our systems to ensure compliance with the latest standards and guidelines from the W3C.

Our Commitment To Web Accessibility for bcdtravel.com

Ongoing Efforts To Ensure Accessibility

Web site accessibility is an ongoing process. Testing of our site is performed by our team members using industry-standard tools such as the Developer Tools Accessibility Check, WAVE, or color contrast analyzers.

Accessibility features on our website

  • Mobile friendly: Our website works well on all devices, including phones and tablets. Buttons and links are big enough to tap easily.
  • Easy to read font: We use a clear and readable font called Inter throughout the website.
  • Good color contrast: The colors on our website are easy to see for everyone, including people with low vision.
  • Skip to main content: You can quickly jump to the main parts of our website using shortcut links.
  • Image descriptions: Most pictures and other visuals have descriptions that explain what they are.
  • Organized content: Our website is well-organized with clear headings and lists, making it easy to find information.
  • Screen reader support: Our website works well with screen readers, which are tools used by blind or visually impaired people to access information.

A focus on digital accessibility and inclusion

Digital accessibility is both a responsibility and opportunity to create an inclusive experience for people with disabilities using websites, digital tools and technologies. Supporting equal access to travel, and an accessible travel experience is something that we continue investing time and resources into.

We want to continue building an inclusive organization with technologies that maximize user benefit for our customers.

We’re already supporting the four principles (perceivable, operable, understandable and robust) that underpin the WCAG. This includes optimizing accessibility for people with disabilities through features like dark mode functionality in our mobile app, reducing distractions, eye strain and blue light exposure (perceivable); designing solutions that can be used on smart devices or online via the Internet using compatible browsers (operable); supporting simple, efficient and intuitive user experiences (understandable); and evolving our solutions with the latest development of smart technologies (robust).

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We’ve been developing the tools and resources available to our employees to embed DE&I into our organization, systems, processes and culture.

For example, we created our Be You at BCD resource center, where BCD people can find multi-media content on various topics to help them and their teams live our DE&I Principles daily. From articles and videos to podcasts and infographics, our resource center helps employees raise their awareness and provides tools for putting DE&I into practice. Topics in the resource center include Accessibility & Disability Inclusion, Cultural Diversity and Unconscious Bias.

We also run ‘Culture Cafés’ for smaller group discussions where employees in all BCD regions have a chance to discuss specific topics further and share their perspectives. We’ve launched a new training program for our leadership teams incorporating specific DE&I and sustainability topics, such as sustainable business strategy, leading DE&I, inclusive leadership through behavioral science and many more.

We provide confidential employee support initiatives, including mental health ambassadors and employee assistance schemes as spaces of support for employees with more acute needs. Updating workplace policies and practices To meet the needs of a diverse workforce and customer base, and to foster equity and inclusion, we’ve developed our workplace policies and practices in several key areas.

For example, we have established a new Statement of Corporate Commitment. This document clearly outlines our commitment to DE&I, the ongoing actions we’ll take to further mature and develop on our Be You journey and what we expect from all our employees in support of our goals.

The document was communicated and made available across our global organization and is in alignment with our Global Equal Opportunities Policy, Code of Conduct, Supplier Code of Conduct, Global Harassment Policy, Global HR Policy, Global Environment and Health & Safety (EHS) Policy and Menopause Policy.

Integrating diversity, equity & inclusion principles into travel and meetings programs

Partnerships

Sourcing of diverse suppliers aligned to business needs

Working with partners and suppliers who actively support DE&I strategies

Integrating DE&I specifications into requests for proposals

Partnering with diverse organizations to increase supplier reach and achieve certification

Working with HR to make DE&I a travel program priority

Traveler experience

Ensuring travel program assets are digitally accessible

Diverse traveler support (e.g. female travelers, the LGBTQIA+ community and travelers with disabilities) and promoting cultural awareness and appreciation

Inclusive travel and meetings policies

Ongoing improvement

Building DE&I performance indicators into
success metrics

Traveler and attendee engagement and feedback

Feedback

We value the feedback of our users throughout. If you encounter any accessibility barriers while navigating on BCD Travel or have any requests, please reach out to us via email at [email protected]. We aim to respond to feedback within 3 business days.

Privacy Policy

For information on how we handle your personal data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

Technical Specifications

BCD Travel relies on the following technologies to ensure accessibility:

  • HTML
  • WAI-ARIA
  • CSS
  • JavaScript

These technologies play a crucial role in meeting accessibility standards, and we continuously update them to incorporate new features and better accessibility.

Limitations and alternatives

Despite our best efforts to ensure accessibility, there may be some limitations. Below is a description of known limitations and possible solutions. Please contact us if you experience a problem that is not listed below.

Known limitations:

  1. PDF files: Many PDF files are not accessible.
  2. Interactive maps: Interactive maps are not accessible to people with visual impairments or users who rely on keyboard navigation.
  3. Audio Description: Some videos on this site do not have audio description.
  4. Podcast: At this time only some of our podcasts have transcripts. 

Assessment Approach

Our accessibility assessment follows a comprehensive approach:

  • Self-Evaluation
  • We conduct thorough audits of our website, focusing on accessibility aspects. Our evaluation includes both automated tools and manual reviews to ensure compliance. We also utilize skip navigation functions and interface enhancements for users with any type of disabilities.

Date

This statement was created on 22. March 2024. Updated on 13. May 2024.