2025 Social Impact Award

Novotel Madrid Center has been awarded the Social Impact Award at the Traveling For Happiness 2025 awards for becoming the first Autism Friendly hotel in Madrid, integrating specific measures that facilitate a more understandable, structured, and adapted experience for people with autism and their families. Through Autism Friendly Club certification, the hotel has transformed its operations and spaces to respond in a real and practical way to specific needs.

In a city that welcomes millions of visitors each year, this initiative expands access to tourism for a group that has traditionally encountered invisible barriers in hotel environments, demonstrating that inclusion is not just a commitment, but a tangible application in the day-to-day guest experience.

Inclusive hospitality that transforms the tourist experience

Novotel Madrid Center has become the first Autism Friendly hotel in Madrid, after obtaining certification from the Autism Friendly Club, representing a significant step forward in adapting hotel environments to specific needs. This recognition is in response to the implementation of a set of measures designed to offer a more comfortable, predictable, and safe stay.

The project includes the installation of visual aids (pictograms) in common areas to facilitate orientation, the creation of sensory "refuge areas" to manage situations of overload, the adaptation of schedules and services, as well as the availability of preferred tables in restaurants. In addition, the hotel has developed specific protocols for action, offers priority check-in, personalized needs forms, and sensory kits to accompany possible deregulation processes.

A fundamental pillar of the initiative has been the specialized training of staff, ensuring comprehensive and appropriate care, aligned with the principles of social inclusion and responsible employment. The positive reception by guests and their families confirms the real impact of the project in improving their experience and well-being.

With this initiative, Novotel Madrid Center not only reinforces its social commitment, but also paves the way for more inclusive tourism in Madrid, inspiring other establishments to incorporate cognitive accessibility as an essential part of their management model.