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Sunnyvale,
CA & Spartanburg, SC – September 2025 / NewsmakerAlert: A
new partnership between Hilton
Garden Inn Sunnyvale and Friendly
Accessibility is making travel more inclusive for neurodivergent hotel
guests.
Hilton
Garden Inn Sunnyvale, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is the first
Neuro-Ready Certified Hotel with a commitment to sensory-friendly hospitality.
The certification comes via Friendly Accessibility, a company that provides
evidence-based solutions, training, and support to transform both digital
and physical spaces into welcoming experiences for everyone.
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The
Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce hosted
a ribbon-cutting in August to celebrate the designation.
“This
partnership pioneers a new standard for inclusive hospitality,” says Julie
Steele, founder of Friendly Accessibility. “Travel can be an overwhelming
experience for people with ADHD, dyslexia, and autism. By offering sensory-friendly
service, environments, and amenities, Neuro-Ready Hotels provide more than
a place to sleep — they become an oasis of comfort and calm.”
Hilton
Garden Inn Sunnyvale earned Friendly Accessibility's formal “Neuro-Ready
Sensory Champion” designation after completing the Neuro-Ready Spaces system.
As such, Hilton Garden Inn Sunnyvale commits to:
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Team
Training: Hotel employees learn sensory-awareness skills to better
recognize and accommodate the needs of neurodivergent guests.
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Calm
Kits: Calming amenities, available to all guests, include Quiet Mind
weighted pillows, sound machines, and sensory comfort tools.
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Curated
Spaces: Sensory considerations such as lighting, sound, and comfort
features are incorporated into thoughtfully designed guest spaces.
Hilton
Garden Inn Sunnyvale is owned and operated by OTO
Development, part of The Johnson Group, which is headquartered in Spartanburg,
South Carolina. With a portfolio of upscale select service, extended stay,
and lifestyle hotels, OTO is committed to meeting travelers where they
are.
“Our
goal is to provide an exceptional experience for every guest, every stay,”
says Taissa Christino,
Director of Sales at Hilton Garden Inn Sunnyvale. “Sensory comfort benefits
everyone, and partnering with Friendly Accessibility enhances our ability
to accommodate a diversity of needs.”
A LEED
Gold hotel, Hilton Garden Inn Sunnyvale is located at 767 N. Mathilda Ave.
in Sunnyvale, California. The property comprises 238 cozy guest rooms and
bright, airy social spaces. Amenities include an outdoor pool, a 24/7 fitness
center, EV charging stations, and Kitchen on Peery Park, an on-site restaurant
featuring craft cocktails and locally sourced cuisine.
“When
hotels invest in thoughtful sensory accommodations, they’re unlocking an
underserved market,” says Steele, noting that an estimated 1 in 5 people
are neurodivergent. “Inclusive hospitality is good business, because every
traveler benefits from a more comfortable, welcoming environment.”
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About
OTO Development
OTO
Development, part of The
Johnson Group, is an award-winning hotel development and hospitality
management company. Founded in 2004 and partnering with the Hilton, Hyatt,
IHG, and Marriott brands, OTO’s industry leadership position is anchored
by a portfolio of excellent hotels staffed by exceptional people. The company
owns and/or operates 54 hotels comprising 8,663 room keys. OTO’s growth
is focused on developing new hotels in high-barrier-to-entry markets, purchasing
and repurposing existing hotel properties, and expanding third-party management
relationships. For more information, visit OTODevelopment.com.
OTO
Development: Facebook
| Twitter | LinkedIn
About
Hilton Garden Inn Sunnyvale
Hilton
Garden Inn Sunnyvale, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, is part
of Hilton’s award-winning, global upscale brand of hotels. The 6-story
property comprises 238 cozy guest rooms and bright, airy social spaces.
Amenities include an outdoor pool, 24/7 fitness center, 3K square feet
of flexible meeting and event space, and an on-site restaurant, Kitchen
at Peery Park, featuring craft cocktails and locally sourced cuisine. Hilton
Garden Inn Sunnyvale is part of the Hilton
Honors guest-loyalty program. The LEED Gold hotel is located at 767
N. Mathilda Ave. in Sunnyvale, California. Visit the hotel
website for more information or call 408-735-7345.
About
Friendly Accessibility
Friendly
Accessibility works with organizations to create welcoming spaces where
everyone can thrive. As a digital accessibility and sensory accessibility
specialist, we help organizations transform both digital and physical spaces
into welcoming experiences for everyone. Founded by a mom on a mission,
whose two neurodivergent young adult children have sensory conditions,
Friendly Accessibility was born from the real-world challenges families
face in everyday environments — from education and employment to healthcare,
travel, hospitality, retail, civic services, and social settings. Our advocacy
is fueled by the principle “nothing about us without us,” ensuring that
training, awareness, and education come from lived experience and authentic
understanding. Through our “Welcoming Spaces Made EASY” approach, we provide
practical solutions that make accessibility achievable for any organization
committed to inclusive excellence. For more information, visit FriendlyAccessibility.com.
Media
Contact:
Diane
Jackson
Director
of Public Relations
&
Corporate Communications
OTO
Development
864-327-6274
LinkedIn
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