With a comprehensive inclusivity program in
partnership with Autism Double-Checked, Virgin Hotels provides a
safe and comfortable stay for neurodiverse travelers and guests
with hidden disabilities
MIAMI, March 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin Hotels, the
distinguished luxury lifestyle hospitality brand with locations
across the U.S. and in the U.K., is deepening its commitment to
inclusive travel, offering a variety of programs and services for
neurodiverse travelers and those with hidden disabilities. As
sensory sensitivities, communication differences, and specific
needs often deter these travelers from embarking on vacations,
Virgin Hotels recognized this gap and set out to create a solution
that goes beyond awareness.
Virgin Hotels has forged a meaningful partnership with Autism
Double-Checked, an organization at the forefront of autism
awareness and education in the travel industry, to create extensive
training and resources for Virgin Hotels team members that
positively impact the guest experience for neurodiverse travelers.
Four Virgin Hotels are currently Autism Double-Checked certified -
Virgin Hotels Nashville, Virgin Hotels New York, Virgin Hotels
Dallas and Virgin Hotels Chicago. Virgin Hotels New Orleans and
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh will be certified in 2024, marking a
milestone certification for the entire brand.
According to Autism Double-Checked, between 25 and 35 million
people are parents to one or more children with autism and due to
the current travel landscape, 87% of them currently do not travel
or take family vacations.
"There is a significant segment of the population missing out on
the opportunity to create memories with loved ones due to barriers
in accessible travel," said James
Bermingham, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Hotels
Collection. "It is so important to us to provide a safe and
accessible space that allows all individuals the freedom to travel
with ease and partnering with Autism Doubled-Checked was an
essential step for Virgin Hotels to make a significant difference
and impact for neurodiverse travelers. With the in-depth training
and resources they've provided our team members, we can now
confidently offer neurodiverse travelers the tools they need to
create invaluable memories."
Virgin Hotels' Approach to Inclusive Travel For Neurodiverse
Travelers
Virgin Hotels' commitment to ensuring safe and comfortable stays
for autistic and neurodiverse travelers is extensive and
intentional. The hospitality brand is implementing impactful
practices to make a difference including:
- Hiring: Through Virgin Hotels' Justice, Equity,
Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) program, the brand hires individuals
that are reflective of the world and encompass a variety of racial
backgrounds, genders and abilities. Each hotel partners with a
local organization specifically to hire neurodiverse
individuals.
- Comprehensive Staff Training: Every team member at a
certified Virgin Hotel property undergoes specialized training in
partnership with Autism Double-Checked. They learn how to welcome
and assist guests with autism or hidden disabilities, ensuring a
respectful and empathetic approach. Plus there are future plans to
roll out ongoing resources for team members including unconscious
bias trainings and beyond.
- Visitor's Guide: Virgin Hotels provides an Autism
Double-Checked visitor's guide for guests ahead of their stay that
highlights sensory-friendly areas within the hotel. Here, guests
can find information about quiet spaces, potential noise levels,
and other considerations.
- Hidden Disabilities: Virgin Hotels has also implemented
a new partnership with Hidden Disabilities to allow teammates
and guests to wear a sunflower lanyard that indicates that they
have a non-visible disability and may need more time, assistance or
care.
Accessible Chambers
Virgin Hotels' chambers are uniquely designed to cater to
the needs of travelers with autism so all guests can feel in
control and comfortable with their accommodations. Important
in-room touchpoints include blackout shades, the ability to control
the lighting, large walk-in showers with a handheld function, two
chamber design that allows for separation and noise control and
temporary door alarms to alert travel companions should the chamber
door be opened at any time. The brand looks forward to rolling
out additional inclusive accommodation add-ons this year.
Hotels with Heart: Reduced Rates for Practice Stays
To further increase accessibility in 2024, Virgin Hotels
has recently launched Hotels with Heart. This initiative offers
reduced rates for practice stays at all Virgin Hotels with Autism
Double-Checked certifications. This opportunity provides travelers
with a meaningful way to test the waters, ensuring a smooth
experience before their actual trip.
Guests interested in booking a rehearsal stay can email
hotelswithheart@virginhotels.com.
For more information on Virgin Hotels diversity &
inclusivity commitment, visit
https://virginhotels.com/diversity-and-inclusivity/.
About Virgin Hotels
Virgin Hotels is a luxury
lifestyle hospitality brand that combines heartfelt service and a
personalized hotel experience inspired by the innovation and smart
disruption that Sir Richard
Branson's global Virgin Group has pioneered for more than 50
years. Each hotel intermixes a passion for food and beverage with
music, design, and culture, fusing with the local landscape and
providing a vibrant and inclusive environment for travelers and
locals alike. The current portfolio includes seven hotels: Virgin
Hotels Chicago, Virgin Hotels Dallas, Virgin Hotels Nashville,
Virgin Hotels New Orleans, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Virgin Hotels
Edinburgh, and Virgin Hotels New York City New locations will debut
in Miami and Denver in 2026, as well as the launch of
Virgin Residences. In addition, Virgin Hotels continues to explore
hotel, conversions, and ground-up development in Boston, Orlando, Los
Angeles, Philadelphia,
Seattle, London and more.
About Autism Double-Checked
Autism
Double-Checked believes that travel should be available for
everyone, including individuals and families impacted by autism. To
create this reality, ADC provides
online autism awareness training and certification
programs that have been specifically designed to make autism
inclusion simple and profitable for all segments of the travel
industry, including airlines, hotels, tour operators and travel
agents. Based in Connecticut, the
organization was founded in 2015 by two lifetime travel
professionals and leading experts on traveling with autism who are
also parents to special needs children. Most families with an
autistic child avoid taking family vacations due to concerns about
their child's reaction to all the unfamiliar stimuli they will
confront outside of their routine 'comfort bubble' at home. Autism
Double-Checked works with its travel industry partners to ensure
training and resources are in place to give this travel segment
confidence that they are included and welcomed as
travelers.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/virgin-hotels-champions-inclusive-travel-for-neurodiverse-travelers-302103055.html
SOURCE Virgin Hotels