When Google delivered a presentation on neurodivergent disorders to City of Myrtle Beach employees, Tiffany Andrews, sales and marketing coordinator at Myrtle Beach Convention Center, noticed a need that had otherwise been missing from the meetings and events industry.
Andrews said when we think of inclusive events, we think about gender, culture, and food. But when Myrtle Beach convention center employees were required to complete an autism training course, Andrews recognized the space wasn’t conducive for those with autism or other neurodivergent disorders.
“Being in a convention center, you already know that there are flashing lights, loud sounds, a very robust trade show that is taking up over 100,000 square feet, chitter-chatter and things of that nature—it can become an awful lot,” Andrews said.
So, with the help of Google and MPI, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center has become the first convention center on the East Coast with a room exclusively created for the neurodivergent community.
The Serenity Spectrum Space allows guests and attendees to escape the convention floor to a safe space with mood lighting, sensory kits and a Bluetooth speaker for calming music.
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Andrews originally asked for a “pod” of space at the convention center. Convention center staff then cleaned out a holding room and transformed the space into the serenity room.
The attention to detail in the room came down to the nuances of fabric and carpet color to ensure a haven from sensory overload.
“We hear what the client is also saying that they want, and how can we achieve that goal,” she said.
And so far, clients have responded with a desire for similar spaces throughout the convention center.
“It feels also great to know that the community is a part of this and it's being embraced,” Andrews said.
