No mind left behind:
How travel embraces neurodiversity

The family seeking a less stimulating restaurant space. The frequent flyer requiring a moment of calm between connections. The business traveler needing extra help blocking out bedtime distractions.

For all its progress on accessibility, the travel industry still hasn’t created a world that works for everyone, leaving neurodivergent travelers to find their own ways to cope while far from home. 

But things are changing. In recent years, travel companies have gotten serious about expanding their definition of accessibility, and they are making a more concerted effort to recognize and respond to the needs of the neurodiverse. It’s a shift that builds on decades of an evolving understanding of neurological differences.

Widely credited with coining the term “neurodiversity” in the 1990s, Australian sociologist Judy Singer helped change how society thinks about often-invisible neurological differences. Her message was straightforward: People’s minds naturally work in different ways or, as the Autistic Self Advocacy Network puts it, “No two brains are exactly the same.”

As this understanding has grown, so has recognition of the significant number of travelers affected, from toddlers to adults. An estimated one in four Americans has an “invisible disability” like autism, dyslexia or attention-deficit disorder, according to KultureCity, an Alabama-based nonprofit that promotes inclusivity and accessibility for individuals with sensory needs. 

These Americans, however, don’t want their differences to limit their wanderlust. A survey of neurodivergent individuals and their caregivers conducted by KultureCity and Hyatt Hotels Corp. in early 2024 found that more than 90% of respondents planned to take at least one overnight trip last year. 

And as attitudes continue to shift, these travelers are increasingly willing to self-identify as neurodivergent — and to demand appropriate accommodations.

“What we’re seeing is a fundamental shift in how the industry approaches neurodiversity,” said Richie Karaburun, a clinical associate professor at New York University’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. “And it’s no longer just about the family travel category anymore. Business travelers, solo travelers — they’re all part of this conversation. These travelers are now saying, ‘This is who I am, and this is what I need to have a better experience.’”

The following reports explore how some companies in different sectors of the industry are working to make travel more inclusive for this sizable yet historically underserved segment of the population.

—Christina Jelski

Hyatt studies ways to serve all guests’ needs

Last year, Hyatt partnered with KultureCity and consultants from NYU’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, including Karaburun, to dive deep into how the hospitality industry can better serve neurodivergent travelers.

The group’s research indicated that nearly 70% of caregivers and more than half of neurodivergent travelers would be open to disclosing their neurodiversity during the booking process to receive customized care.

“This willingness to share and self-identify makes it a lot easier for us to take care of these guests in a differentiated way,” said Mark Vondrasek, chief commercial officer at Hyatt.

The brand is currently in the process of developing digital solutions to enable neurodivergent guests to self-identify when booking and to more easily locate properties with dedicated accessibility features.

Other initiatives are in the testing phase at select U.S. properties, such as the addition of weighted blankets and other sensory aids to the company’s Hyatt Has It program, which offers everyday essentials that guests can either buy or borrow, such as humidifiers, headphones and yoga mats.

Other Hyatt hotels, including the Grand Hyatt Vail in Colorado, are rolling out enhanced, 3D virtual tours on their hotel websites to help guests familiarize themselves with a property prior to arrival.

Hyatt and KultureCity also found that pre-arrival room selection is a priority for more than 60% of neurodivergent travelers and their caregivers, with neurodiverse individuals reporting a preference for choosing rooms with less noise exposure.

“Sometimes, if neurodivergent travelers can already have a vision of what an environment or space is going to be like, it can help them to assimilate better when they arrive,” Vondrasek said. 

Additionally, survey findings indicated that over half of neurodivergent travelers prefer limiting front desk interactions, making digital keys and self-checkout an important amenity. 

And around 60% of millennial and Gen Z neurodivergent travelers and caregivers said they want sleep-related amenities, such as sound machines, noise-canceling headphones and pillow menus. As a result, Hyatt has expanded its existing partnership with mental health app Headspace, which offers specialized sleep and meditation content, including white noise and brown noise features. 

Above all, however, staff training is key to Hyatt’s efforts, Vondrasek said, which includes offering the sensory aids, support and experiences travelers might need. “We’re empowering our teams with the very best training,” he said.

Some Hyatt properties are much further ahead of the curve than others. Vondrasek cited the Hyatt House Seattle/Bellevue and Hyatt Place New York/Yonkers, both of which have completed extensive training and introduced sensory resources necessary to achieve Kulture-City’s Sensory Inclusive Certification. 

Another is the Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla in Jordan, which became a designated Certified Autism Center after reimagining its Camp Hyatt kids’ club to fully accommodate neurodivergent experiences and investing in autism sensitivity and awareness training. 

Vondrasek sees these properties as blueprints for wider implementation across Hyatt’s global portfolio.

“We’re asking all our regions and divisions to [share] what they’ve done, and we’re going to use that as a sort of circular learning process,” Vondrasek said. “We want to share best practices with others who want to think differently about this space but need the catalyst of seeing what someone else has done first.”

—C.J.

Wings for Autism gets flyers ready with practice airport runs

As major airlines work to make air travel more accessible for neurodivergent passengers, many are finding that the journey begins long before takeoff. One standout initiative making a difference nationwide is The Arc's Wings for Autism, an airport rehearsal program.

On a late September afternoon at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, 4-year-old Pedro Cardenas, joined by parents Ana and Christian, visited an airport gate for the first time, a carry-on bag at his side.

Nearby, Gabriela Ramos, 17, was also making her first visit to an airport, joined by her father, Gabriel, and mother, Stacey.

The two families, along with approximately 40 other families waiting at the gate on this blazing afternoon, would soon board an American Airlines plane. But, unlike at a typical airport gate, none of those families had a destination that day. Instead, their goal was to prepare their neurodivergent children for upcoming travel to destinations far and wide.

Airports — with their crowds, loudspeakers and lines — can cause sensory overload for many neurodiverse people. In addition, security lines force flyers to part with prized possessions, a process that can be unsettling and even traumatic for some travelers. The crowded confines of the aircraft itself can also be stressful, even for the most seasoned flyers.

Wings for Autism events offer neurodivergent travelers a practice run to get acclimated to this unfamiliar experience while giving families a free-of-charge opportunity to assess whether their loved one could handle an actual plane trip.

“What families tell me they worry most about is burdening other passengers,” said Melanie Mills, Arizona’s state director for The Arc, a nonprofit that last year ran Wings for Autism events in approximately 20 cities around the country. “When they see that it’s not going to be this scary thing for their child, it really just opens them up to the possibility of being involved in things that we take for granted.”

Participants in Wings for Autism take what amounts to a full preflight dry run. At the airport, they collect boarding passes, go through security, make their way to the gate and board the plane. They are encouraged to bring carry-on bags. 

Once onboard, individuals stow any carry-ons and take their assigned seats. Flight attendants deliver the flight instructions. Then, the crew taxis the aircraft around the airfield.

Finally, program participants exit the plane, just as they would on an actual flight.

For the Cardenas family, said Ana, the initial goal was to feel comfortable that they can fly to Guadalajara, Mexico, to visit family. Pedro, who has autism, has a photographic memory, Ana said, so she expected him to remember this flight rehearsal on future airport trips.

“We want to go other places far away from here,” she added.

The Ramos family has set their sights on taking Gabriela, who has developmental delay, to Disney World within the next year as a graduation gift.

Gabriela’s mother said the family had been eagerly awaiting the Wings for Autism event as a first step. After that, they hope to take a short trip by air in preparation for the longer journey from Arizona to Florida.

For all of their seriousness, Wings for Autism events are a celebration. At this event, participants played games such as cornhole and snacked on sweet treats that partner companies were handing out. Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego was there, and spoke about the emphasis Sky Harbor and the city put on accessibility.

Amid the hullabaloo, Gabriela posed for a photograph, a wide grin on her face.

“I think it’s gone very well,” her father, Gabriel, said. “Much better than we’ve expected.”

—Robert Silk

Travelmation is meeting the needs of neurodiverse travelers of all ages

Jordana Izzo, a travel advisor and director of accessible travel with Travelmation, No. 59 on Travel Weekly’s Power List, has witnessed a shift in recent years as the industry grapples with serving neurodivergent travelers of all ages.

Historically, efforts to be more welcoming to neurodivergent travelers had largely focused on children. Yet, more and more people are getting diagnosed, some as early as before age 2, and others into adulthood. And of course, children who are diagnosed grow into adults. 

It’s that group — adult neurodivergent travelers — that the industry can better serve, Izzo said.

“I think the industry really is focusing mainly on that child point of view, because they want to make sure their kids’ camps are friendly,” she said. “But we do want to make sure that the industry isn’t lacking when it comes to adult understanding as well and that it doesn’t just stop at a certain age.”

While there is room for improvement. Izzo has noticed an uptick in the number of hotels that include a more diverse crowd in their marketing; in particular, she pointed to properties that are certified as autism friendly by organizations like Autism Double-Checked and the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, which include neurodivergent travelers in their images. 

At Travelmation, Izzo created an advisor certification on accessible travel, which delves into neurodivergence. Its main goal is to help advisors understand the kind of questions they need to ask clients and how to properly qualify those clients.

For the most part, families with neurodivergent travelers “just want the acceptance, the inclusion, the awareness,” Izzo said. “A lot of it is just talking about those anxieties that are going to be coming up.”

Izzo also recommends travelers seek out “safe spaces,” or quieter places in destinations where neurodivergent travelers can take a break. That might mean a quiet corner of a theme park, a quiet pool or even the old smoking areas on cruise ships, which tend to be quieter spots. She noted that more and more facilities, including airports, are adding sensory rooms to better serve travelers.

For advisors who want to learn more, Izzo recommended searching TED Talks. A number of neurodivergent adults have given presentations about their experiences, which can help an advisor understand their mindset. Certifications are also useful to gain knowledge.

With CDC data showing that autism diagnoses continue to increase, Izzo predicted that there will be more focus on accommodating neurodivergent travelers, including more inclusive marketing, within the next five years.

“I think that the vendors and the industry are really getting behind this,” Izzo said. “We want to support all families, because all families should be able to travel.”

—Jamie Biesiada

Carnival and Royal helping cruisers cope with new surroundings

Cruising can be fun. But for neurodivergent travelers, navigating a busy terminal at embarkation can be overwhelming; a cruise buffet area can seem chaotic as people flock to different stations; the top deck pool area, teeming with people and loud music, might feel hectic. 

“We know the excitement and anticipation that comes with embarking on a cruise can be overwhelming for someone with sensory needs, especially as a first-time cruiser,” said Clarisa Stollenwerck, Carnival Cruise Line’s vice president of guest operations. “But we’ve seen firsthand how something as simple as providing a pair of headphones can help someone feel safe and more comfortable as they acclimate to the new environment.”

Carnival’s support extends beyond noise-canceling headphones. Working with KultureCity, the cruise line gives guests sensory inclusivity bags containing various tools to help manage sensory overload, such as fidget toys, a visual feeling thermometer and a lanyard that helps staff identify and assist those with sensory needs. Guests can check out the bags for free for the duration of the cruise from guest services or from crew working at the line’s youth program.

KultureCity also provides Carnival with comprehensive crew training to teach them how to approach and communicate with guests who have neurodivergent needs. 

For kids in the line’s youth program, Carnival also has tools such as weighted vests, conversation cards and sensory games. 

Royal Caribbean International’s amenities for guests with autism, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities include priority check-in, boarding and departure; special dietary menus; flexible grouping by ability in the Adventure Ocean kids’ club for children ages 3 to 11; and pagers and phones for parents of children at the kids’ club. The line also offers sensory-friendly films and toys. 

Royal also provides an online guide describing various social interactions and situations to help people with autism better cope with social situations onboard. 

Via a partnership with Autism of the Seas, an independent travel company specializing in cruise vacations for adults and families with special needs, select Royal cruises have additional staff trained by the organization in a ratio of one staff member for every two to three guests with special needs. The cruises feature specialized respite sessions and private activities.

—Andrea Zelinski