UK: Karisma Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Autism Double-Checked to introduce an Autism Concierge.
The Autism Concierge encourages adult guests with autism or guests travelling with a child with autism, to ask about specific needs through a concierge contact.
Guests looking for support as they plan their stay can contact the Autism Concierge by emailing them.
Staff at the hotel group have also completed a number of Autism Double-Checked courses in “Assisting Guests with Autism” and all staff in contact with guests have been trained to help with specific situations that guests with autism may face during their stay.
Daniel Lozano, vice president of operations at Karisma Hotels & Resorts said: “We continually work to exceed our guests’ expectations by adapting ourselves to their needs. In addition to ongoing training, this added resource will assure guests that we take their concerns seriously and that we want them to feel at home at our resorts.”
The concierge service is an extension of the Autism Double-Checked three-part training programme.
Autism Double-Checked was created to prepare the travel industry to better serve guests with autism through industry-specific and job-specific training for all public-facing staff.
It also assists the autism community to confidently select travel opportunities that best fit their needs.
The training includes three stages: general basic training for all staff, specific training per department, and the development of a site-specific visitor guide to assist parents, caregivers, and visitors with autism.
Once a hotel has completed all three phases, it obtains the “Autism Double-Checked” Certificate, indicating that it is ready, willing, and able to welcome families and guests impacted by autism.
Alan Day, co-founder and CEO, Autism Double-Checked said:”Inclusion is only possible if you truly understand the population you wish to include. It takes specialised training to understand and address the specific needs of travellers with autism, and we’re proud to help bring understanding and compassion to our travel industry partners. Karisma Hotels & Resorts has been truly dedicated to undertaking this training and pursuing their vision of diversity and inclusion.”
Guests can email the Autism Concierge directly at [email protected].
This year, as part of its overarching inclusion efforts, the hotel group also plans to introduce temporary door alarms for guests who wish to have them. The idea is it will give peace of mind to those at home, knowing their friends or family members are safe and secure while away.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts is a luxury hotel collection which owns and manages properties in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Image: Karisma’s Margaritaville Island Reserve Resort in Riviera Maya, which opened in June.