Ongoing research
The Neurodivergent
Hotel Experience Survey
This research aims to improve accessibility in hospitality for neurodivergent individuals by gathering your experiences and insights about hotel stays. The information you provide will be used for research published in aggregate form, in hospitality industry-targeted efforts to improve visitor experiences, and in public forums to bring visibility to issues important to the neurodivergent community.
87%
of families with autistic children do not take family vacations
Autism Travel / IBCCES survey, 2019
93%
say they'd be more likely to travel if autism-certified options existed
Autism Travel / IBCCES survey, 2019
What our survey shows so far
92%
found something hard about their last hotel stay
67%
of caregivers cited not knowing what the space would be like ahead of time
58%
mentioned food access as a serious challenge
1 in 4
didn't feel comfortable asking the hotel for changes
Top friction points reported
What people told us
"Food is the biggest issue. Also, casual and sensitive medical care would be helpful when dealing with the minor health issues that seem to come up during travel."
"Making sure staff are trained to understand neurodivergence — even just knowing that staff have an understanding decreases the stress level for parents."
"Due to my son's restrictive diet, we need a kitchen, kitchenette, or very understanding staff — all of which adds significant cost."
"I did not know I was allowed to ask [for changes to the hotel environment.]"
What respondents said would actually help
Photos or video of the room before arrival
A quieter room or floor option
Text or app check-in (no talking required)
Clear photos of hallways and shared spaces
Staff trained in neurodivergent support
Better food choices and accessible menus
Your experience matters
Whether you're neurodivergent, a caregiver, or a family member, your answers help build the case for change. The survey takes about 1 minute and responses are completely anonymous.
Share your experience