Airbnb acquires Accomable to aid travelers with disabilities

Adding to its portfolio, Airbnb announced today that it has acquired Accomable, a platform designed to help travelers with disabilities find accessible hotels, vacation rentals and apartments. 

Airbnb states it already has an "Open Door" policy that ensures that everyone will have a place to stay, and it prohibits its hosts from denying guests on the basis of disability.

However, the acquisition of Accomable, according to a press statement, will allow for guests to have "greater confidence" in booking their stay at locations that are much more accessible to their needs.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Accomable's website will be phased out over the coming months, and its listings - which span across 60 countries - will be made available on the Airbnb website with the proper designations.

In addition, Airbnb will provide its hosts with a more detailed checklist to fill out so potential guests can make more informed opinions. 

While Airbnb's statement about the acquisition implies that it's trying to address a "deeper conversation" with customers, its latest acquisition is helping to solidify the company's place in the accommodations industry, and in appealing to a greater swath of customers.

Its previous acquisitions suggest that it was already making lateral moves to take a greater share of the booking market. 

For example, when Airbnb acquired Montreal-based Luxury Retreats, it demonstrated that it was interested in cornering the luxury market.

Similarly, its acquisition of CrashPadder demonstrated its willingness to tackle the lower-end hostel and couch-surfing market.