Marriott International recently announced efforts to introduce neuroinclusive practices globally at large customer events through its partnership with with The Neu Project from Google’s Experience Institute (Xi). 

“Grounded in our commitments to innovation and inclusion, Marriott is dedicated to making meetings and events more accessible to everyone,” said Drew Pinto, Marriott International Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue & Technology Officer, in a press release. “The Neu Project is a driving force in this space, and we look forward to working jointly with them, along with the neurodivergent community, to deepen our understanding of neurodivergent needs in order to truly welcome all.”

The company has already begun implementing various neuroinclusive practices at recent customer events, including a quiet room, closed captioning and other tools such as sensory toys and noise-canceling headphones. Other recent inclusive industry efforts include a partnership between IHG Hotels and Steps, as well as Karisma Hotels & Resorts and Autism Double-Checked.

The Neu Project, launched in 2022, aims to share resources designed to better accommodate and create more inclusive experience during meetings and events for neurodivergent attendees. It recognizes that approximately 15-20% of the world’s population has neuro differences, including ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism and other syndromes, and seeks to educate event professionals on the design of more neuroinclusive experiences. 

Find the Neu Project’s helpful downloadable guide and checklist available here and read more on ways to create more neuroinclusive events in our recent article, “Accessibility for All” here.