Second place: Work, school put plan on hold
By NANCY DAHLBERG
ndahlberg@MiamiHerald.com


Robert Holtzman entered last year's Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge for the fun of it. He just wanted to see how he would do.

But the longtime public relations man was serious about his idea -- a company that specialized in travel for the disabled.

He won second place.

Like many entrepreneurs, Holtzman got his inspiration from his own experiences. His late wife, Mary Jo, struggled with Lou Gehrig's Disease. When they traveled, they were appalled how often hotels, their employees and online travel services were ill-equipped to provide the services a disabled traveler needs.

Holtzman believed his idea, Wheelchairtravel.us, could fill that niche. The online travel site would allow visitors to book handicapped-accessible rooms and provide a forum where customers could rate and review services based on accessibility. The company would make money by buying rooms in bulk and selling them at a markup.

His next step was supposed to be looking for partners among existing travel companies, which would knock a good chunk off his start-up costs.

He had the plan reviewed by Amadeus, which services the hospitality industry, but so far there have been no concrete results.

For now, life -- and a nasty recession -- are throwing up roadblocks. Wheelchairtravel.us and its website are idling.

This year he is focused on his new job -- vice president for business development at The Conroy Martinez Group in Coral Gables -- and finishing a master's program in mass communications at Florida International University. His thesis might be focused on retailer treatment of customers with disabilities.

''This does further my knowledge in the area and hopefully will contribute to the eventual launch of the product,'' he says.

And time may be on his side. The Americans with Disabilities Act is coming up for renewal, likely bringing the issue of accessible travel to the forefront.

''I still think the business idea is as viable as ever,'' Holtzman says. ``I'd still love to do it when the time is right.''



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