Marriott International has committed to incorporating neuroinclusive practices at its customer events of more than 250 people. The hospitality giant is currently previewing these practices at its Corporate Partnership Customer Conference, The Exchange, which began Nov. 28 and concludes Dec. 1 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, Calif.
The practices have been established through Marriott International's collaboration with the Neu Project, an initiative from Google's Experience Institute, or Xi. The initiative was initially spearheaded by Google global events strategic solutions lead Megan Henshall, who was named one of Northstar's top meetings industry influencers of 2023.
The Neu Project now includes a diverse community of industry partners who collaborate to create best practices that make events accessible to neurodivergent attendees. Roughly 15 to 20 percent of the global population are neurodivergent, which includes diagnoses such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, sensory-processing issues and more.
The following practices will be incorporated into Marriott-hosted customer meetings of at least 250 people:
- Quiet room: A dedicated room will be available that allows attendees to recover from sensory overwhelm, offering restoration and regulation. The space will be designed to foster physical, emotional and mental well-being.
- Tools and resources: Event attendees will have the opportunity to request various tools at registration, including sensory and fidget toys, noise-canceling ear plugs, sleep masks, sunglasses, printed agendas and venue maps. Details about the presence of loud music, flashing lights, or planned surprise moments taking place during the event will be provided as well.
- Closed captioning for main stage presentations: Real-time subtitles and captions will be available on-screen during all main-stage event and conference presentations.
"Marriott is dedicated to making meetings and events more accessible for everyone," said Drew Pinto, Marriott International executive vice president and chief revenue and technology officer. "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."
Marriott, which has been collaborating with the Neu Project since its inception in 2022, has already debuted various practices at its recent events, including both a quiet room and various tools and resources at the Exchange: Association Masters in Phoenix and the Exchange: Europe in Madrid. Marriott also partnered with the Neu Project to implement a quiet room for attendees at IMEX America in Las Vegas in mid-October.
An ongoing project
Throughout 2024, Marriott intends to conduct active listening sessions with the neurodivergent community and through conversations with the Neu Project, to further refine practices and develop future content.
“The Neu Project was born out of a desire to rethink event experiences post-pandemic, and has since grown into a major initiative that is driving change at events across industries,“ said Google's Megan Henshall. “Marriott understands that creating environments where differing perspectives and experiences can come together boosts creativity, and we have witnessed their passion for increasing inclusivity at meetings and events. We’re excited to continue working with them as we strive to create more inclusive experiences with and for the neurodivergent community.”
Google Experience Institute has piloted many practices and conducted accessibility research through its Xi Days event as well, and will continue to build on those findings.
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