The need for autism-friendly travel accommodations is significant, as every one in 31 people are impacted by autism, per the Centers for Disease Control. Additionally, one in four people live with a sensory need or invisible disability, including autism, PTSD and dementia, per Hard Rock International.
Notably, 98 percent of families who have members on the spectrum are more inclined to travel if autism certified options are available, and 94 percent are more likely to travel if there is access to autism-trained and certified options, per an ongoing Autism Travel study.
Some hotel chains and management companies are recognizing the significant need to support those with autism, PTSD and sensory sensitivities, and are stepping up with certifications, products, and staff training to offer sensory-friendly services.
Virgin Hotels and Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts have been certified by Autism Double-Checked, while numerous other properties and management companies have been certified by a variety of organizations.
Irving, Texas-based Spire Hospitality sought out Autism Double-Checked to help train its staff and certify its hotels as CEO Chris Russell knows firsthand the challenges of traveling with an autistic family member. He has a daughter with a rare disease, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, in which one of the primary symptoms is autism.
“My daughter could take 30 days to recover from a smoke detector going off because it is out of batteries,” Russell said.
However, Russell recognizes that his family is just one of numerous families impacted globally. “There has been so much press on the impact of autism on people in the last couple of years,” he noted. As a result, it has become more of an expectation that they should be accommodated when traveling, Russell affirmed.
And, while observers have said accommodating those with sensory activities can lead to increased business, Russell said Spire is not focused on that benefit. “We don’t do it for the money. Our leadership team all decided this is such as needed thing — both for awareness and accommodation. We did it because it’s the right thing to do.”
Similarly, Hard Rock Hotel New York and Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast partnered with KultureCity, a global nonprofit dedicated to sensory accessibility and inclusion for individuals with invisible disabilities. Hard Rock Hotel Madrid also launched an Autism Friendly program in 2025, which enhances accessibility for autistic individuals to various spaces and services within hotel environments.
Accommodations at Hard Rock Hotel New York and Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast include sensory bags with weighted lap pads, noise-canceling headphones, and fidget tools as well as “social story,” a short, personalized visual guide that helps guests with sensory needs prepare for their visit. The guide includes photos and step-by-step narratives to reduce anxiety and build familiarity before arrival.
“This partnership represents a meaningful step forward in how we define hospitality—one that is not only inclusive, but intentionally designed for every guest to feel seen, supported, and celebrated,” said John Rees, senior vice president of hotel operations for Hard Rock International, referring to the Hard Rock Hotel New York partnership.
Hard Rock recognizes that travel can be overwhelming, particularly for individuals with sensory needs, and saw an opportunity to create a more supportive, welcoming environment that meaningfully improves the guest experience from booking through departure, Rees added.
There is a real need for certain environments that are welcoming for guests with sensory sensitivities, including those with autism, PTSD, and other invisible disabilities, according to Rees. "This is not a trend or a moment—it’s a long-term commitment to evolving our brand standards and guest experience,” he said.
How Training and Certification Works
Staff training is a key component of Hard Rock’s Sensory Inclusive Certification with KultureCity. “Every team member undergoes specialized training to better understand sensory sensitivities and recognize when a guest may need additional support. The training is focused on real-world application, equipping staff to respond with empathy, adapt communication styles, and confidently introduce tools like sensory bags…” Rees noted.
The goal is to ensure every touchpoint, from check-in through the duration of a guest’s stay, feels supportive, seamless, and informed, Rees added.
Alan Day, founder and CEO of Autism Double-Checked, affirmed that staff training is a critical component of becoming certified and the type of training necessary varies by job function. The organization, which offers “Autism Aware” and “Autism Ready certifications, has trained nearly 100,000 individuals in the hotel/airline/travel industry, per Day.
To achieve the organization’s Autism Ready certification, every customer-facing staff member goes through online training. The hotel earns certification when at least 75 percent of the staff pass the course, which takes between 30 minutes and 3 hours, depending on job function.
Training differs by department, such as food and beverage staff members being trained about special dietary needs, seating locations and wait times, while the overall training is based on the belief that, “every autistics customer you meet is a unique and valuable human being who deserves dignity and respect,” Day said.
Some Spire hotels have reached out to local restaurants and asked them to participate/accommodate impacted individuals as well. But, whether it is their on-site restaurants or off-site, staff are training to understand that many autistic individuals enjoy eating the same type of foods, would like to see the menu in advance, and often like to sit in a quieter area of the restaurant.
Then, staff simply asks, “What can we do for you? Is there any specific food we can help with?,” Russell explained. For example, if the guest would like a specific type of pasta for their macaroni and cheese, staff will have it available.
Spire has also made on-property accommodations, such as higher door locks on some rooms and dedicated some rooms as “quiet areas.”
Since Spire implemented the program over a year ago, the company has seen a lot of appreciation from its guests and employees. “Everybody knows someone who is impacted on the spectrum, and it has been great team building for us,” said Russell, adding that hotels seeking to add autism-friendly programs and certifications must have buy-in from the entire team.