The Tui Blue Nausicaa Beach hotel in Larnaca and Tui Blue Aura hotel in Ibiza will be the first Tui properties to gain sensory rooms, which will feature soft lighting, interactive sensory equipment and quiet zones to cater for guests who feel overwhelmed in busy and unfamiliar environments.
The rooms will be available throughout guests’ stay this summer, with Nausicaa Beach poised to reopen on 15 April and Aura on 1 May.
"Overstimulating environments can be challenging, so we are taking steps to make our hotels more inclusive,” said Tui’s brands and product director Louise Bates. “These new sensory rooms will provide a calm and comfortable space, helping families enjoy a truly relaxing holiday.”
In addition to the sensory rooms, the two hotels have stepped up neurodiversity training for all customer-facing staff, and created "Now and Next" boards and revised communication cards for their kids’ clubs, ensuring children know the day’s activities and are able to communicate their needs effectively.
"This is just the beginning as we work towards becoming the most neuro-friendly travel company possible,” Bates added.
Tui has been ramping up its focus on neurodivergent customers over the past 18 months.
It has delivered training, developed in partnership with neurodiversity consultancy Perfectly Autistic, to more than 2,500 members of customer-facing staff on how best to support guests with additional needs.
In addition, more than 300 Tui stores across the UK have also introduced "neuro-friendly" shopping, allowing customers to request accessible appointments.
“This project has not only transformed Tui’s approach to neurodiversity, but has also inspired a broader conversation within the industry,” said UK and Ireland managing director Neil Swanson.
"We have seen significant shifts in awareness among employees about neurodiversity and how it can impact both colleagues and customers, fundamentally reshaping how the business treats its neurodivergent customers to ensure a Tui holiday is for everyone."
