Travel & Hospitality Tech Outlook | Tuesday, February 04, 2020
Few travelers have difficulty in determining information with their senses. Therefore, there is a huge demand for sensory-friendly properties.
FREMONT, CA: Individuals with sensory incapability have to endure many difficulties while traveling, like the struggle to receive and respond to information coming from their senses, including bright lights, strong smell, and loud noises. According to research by the CDC, 1 out of 59 children is identified to have autism spectrum disorder. Finding a hotel that accommodates children with autism is like finding a unicorn. Hence, a need for a sensory-friendly hotel is seen, if a hotel offers sensory-friendly spaces, then families will go for that property before any other in the market.
Making a Big Difference
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Small steps taken by hotels can create a big difference. For instance, hotels having a long communal table and lots of chairs, while moving the chairs for use it makes a lot of noise, but if the hotel puts felt pads on the bottom of the chair legs, then the problem is solved entirely with very fewer efforts.
Importance of Staff Training
It is very evident that changing spaces are the natural part; what is challenging is changing minds. Hotels should provide training to the staff via email and webinar, but the key element is to make the staff understand what the guests and their families are up against.
Communication
Having communication boards at the front desk is a big step in making the hotel sensory-friendly. For the guests who have a limited ability to speak, asking simple things like an extra pillow can be a huge task. The front desk should have a picture book so that they can get that out and explain what they want with the help of the pictures.
Handling Necessities
There must be kits available for the guests with the sensory issue, and these might include comforting items such as noise-canceling headphones or weighted blankets. Also, having extra towels and a spare set of sheets in sensory-friendly rooms is an added level of convenience for the guests.
It is a no-brainer that sensory-friendly hotels will sell well and do well for the community; additionally, it gives the hotels wonderful PR, because they are doing something good for the betterment for humanity.
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