Linda and Stan Gapski can't be sure a building is accessible until they check in. CBC

The P.E.I. government is encouraging tourism operators in the province to verify whether their properties are fully accessible for people with disabilities.

The program is being launched to ensure when people with disabilities go to businesses and accommodations, they get what they're expecting.

Linda and Stan Gapski have had this trouble before. Stan had a stroke and now uses a cane, and sometimes a wheelchair. They book accommodations advertised as accessible, but sometimes it isn't requiring last minute changes.

"That sometimes happens when you're checking in," said Linda Gapski.

The province has now signed on with a service that will independently verify the accessibility of a property. Quality Tourism Services, which already evaluates hotels and B&Bs on the Island for a number of factors, will be inspecting properties and give them a designation, either limited or full mobile accessible, and sight or hearing accessible.

Roxanne Carmody wants to develop trust in QTS's Access Advisor symbol. CBC

"We're hoping over time that is going to give a level of comfort to the consumers that are going into that business," said Roxanne Carmody of QTS, "that if they're looking for a symbol, they're looking for the Access Advisor symbol, because they know it has been verified and they know what they're getting."

Any operator who wants to have an accessibility symbol in the Tourism Guide will have to go through QTS and get evaluated. For the 2012 guide, while the inspections are being done, all operations that now say they are accessible will get a partial accessibility symbol. In 2013, only ones that have gone through the Access Advisor program will be able to have those symbols in the guide.

Tourism PEI said it's important for people to get what they are expecting.

There's an upfront fee and yearly fee for the business, but with an aging population Marcia Carroll, of the Council of People with Disabilities, believes it's worth the cost.

"They'll get more customers," said Carroll.

"Ultimately the more open your business is to all consumers, the more consumers you will have."

QTS has already evaluated more than 100 Island properties, and is hoping to get to many more this year.