Sensory rooms designed to support neurodivergent guests and their families are to be opened at two Tui hotels for this summer.
The Tui Blue Nausicaa Beach in Larnaca, Cyprus will open on April 15, followed by the Tui Blue Aura, Ibiza on May 1.
The operator is enhancing its commitment to accessible travel with the specially designed spaces that provide a calming, low-stimulation environment for guests who may feel overwhelmed by busy or unfamiliar surroundings.
They feature elements such as soft lighting, interactive sensory equipment or quiet zones to encourage relaxation and make holidays more enjoyable for the whole family.
The two hotels will also introduce enhanced neurodiversity awareness training for all frontline staff.
Tui Hotels & Resorts brands and product director Louise Bates said: “Tui is committed to making holidays accessible for all customers, including neurodivergent guests.
“Overstimulating environments can be challenging, so we are taking steps to make our hotels more inclusive. These new sensory rooms will provide a calm and comfortable space, helping families enjoy a truly relaxing holiday.
“We work hard to create a relaxing and inclusive holiday environment for all types of guests. The introduction of sensory rooms based on insights from our guests and experts in neurodiversity is a great step forward in our evolution. “This is just the beginning as we work towards becoming the most neuro-friendly travel company possible.”
Meanwhile, a 20th hotel in Asia has been opened by Tui Group as the operator seeks to almost double the size of its property portfolio.
The 59-room Tui Blue Guilin Watermark Promenade in Guilin comes as Tui Hotels & Resorts plans further hotel openings this year in China and Vietnam as well as a debut in Cambodia.
The five-star Guilin property on the banks of the Li river is also set to be expanded with an additional 61 rooms.
Tui Hotels & Resorts, which has 20 properties in seven Asian countries, intends to grow from 433 to 600 hotels worldwide in the medium term.
Group chief executive Sebastian Ebel said: “Tui has always been strong in bringing guests from Europe to Asia, examples of this are our Robinson clubs or Riu hotels in the region.
“With our new hotels in Asia, we are now also increasingly attracting Asian guests holidaying in the region and are thus growing beyond our European hemisphere.”
Tui Holiday Experiences chief executive Peter Krueger added: “We are thrilled to expand our presence in Asia with the opening of the Tui Blue Guilin Watermark Promenade.
“The great interest from our new franchise partners in the region shows that Tui’s strong hotel brands are well received.
“Together, we look forward to welcoming guests from around the world to experience one of China’s most scenic regions.”