With one in 59 children
diagnosed with autism in the U.S., special needs travel is the fastest growing
family travel segment. Beaches Resorts’ new level of commitment to this
underserved market empowers its staff to confidently ensure every family can
enjoy the award-winning Luxury Included® vacation experience in a safe, fun and
comfortable manner tailored to their specific needs.
“We are proud to continue
paving the way for families with individuals who have special needs, including
children on the autism spectrum, to travel comfortably and truly live up to our
tagline – the ‘Resorts for Everyone’,” said Adam Stewart, Deputy Chairman of
Sandals Resorts International. “As a family-built brand, we want to provide all
families with a superior level of service that makes them feel the most
welcomed at our resorts. We are especially excited to further expand this
important training to our resort’s watersports program, with PADI® certified
dive professionals and other team members earning a special ‘ACAC’ designation
for each Aqua Center at Beaches, allowing children on the spectrum to safely
experience the incredible waters of the Caribbean.”
The Certification Process &
Special Services
The ACAC designation is the
next level of certification once an organization has achieved the CAC
certification. It underscores that the organization has gone above and beyond
to train its staff and provide substantial modifications for visitors with
autism or similar sensory needs, and designations are granted by the IBCCES.
The ACAC certification process
– which will come to life across different aspects of the resorts, both
pre-travel and on property – entails a variety of important aspects including:
An in-depth training of 40
credit hours on autism sensitivity and awareness, in the areas of
communication, motor skills, social skills, environment awareness, emotional
awareness, bullying, early childhood identification, transition to adulthood,
and more.
Activities and
accommodations that must be available for guests on the spectrum
An annual onsite audit and
review
Substantial changes to
protocols and physical space to accommodate various needs
Special Services include the
option of a ‘One-on-One Beaches Buddy’ – personalized, private childcare with a
buddy who is certified by IBCCES, and can be pre-booked (for a nominal fee) –
as well as:
A personalized pre-travel questionnaire
to identify requests and preferences with a dedicated Special Services team to
assist in the vacation planning process
A Culinary Concierge
program to support specific dietary restrictions and special requests
Modified check-in options
for private, in-room, check-in and the availability of sensory toys for
children during check-in
Identification of quiet
spaces during noisier times of the day and evening
Modified design and
decoration in Kids Camps and Entertainment areas to create a more sensory-friendly
environment
Since achieving the CAC
certification in April 2017, Beaches Resorts has also been instrumental in
extending training to hundreds of its travel agent partners, as well as
internal sales and marketing teams, through IBCCES’ Certified Travel Agent
Professional (CATP) in an effort to better communicate with and assist families
within this highly specialized market.
“Beaches Resorts has gone above
and beyond to lead the hospitality industry toward a more inclusive future for
all families seeking unforgettable vacations tailored to their needs,” said
Myron, Board Chairman of IBCCES. “By becoming the first resorts to achieve the
ACAC certification, Beaches is even more prepared to welcome families with
autism, and we applaud them for their ongoing commitment and leadership in
providing travel options for this underserved market.”
“Diving has frequently proven
to be a transformative and healing experience for individuals with physical or
emotional challenges and their families,” said Kristin Valette-Wirth,
Chief Marketing Officer of PADI Worldwide. “We are honored to work together
with our global network of dive centers and resorts, including our longtime
partner in Beaches Resorts, and IBCCES to offer more opportunities for those
with special needs to heal, explore and connect through diving. Together with
Beaches Resorts and IBCCES, we look forward to inspiring and enabling more
travel and shared experiences for all to create lifelong memories that have the
power to transform lives.”
The Introduction of Sesame
Street’s Julia
In September 2017, as part of
its long-standing partnership with Sesame Workshop ®, Beaches Resorts introduced the arrival of
Julia, a Sesame Street Muppet on the autism spectrum, who brought an exclusive
new activity to Beaches Resorts: Amazing
Art with Julia. During this activity, children are greeted by Julia, a
4-year-old girl on the autism spectrum, who loves to paint. Julia highlights
how people can express themselves through art, and children can explore,
experiment and create in an open-ended art activity. As part of brand-wide
efforts to increase awareness of autism, all Beaches Resorts staff underwent sensitivity
training with “Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children”
resources.