Hospitality Meets Heart: Courtyard Hotel Sandton Partners with Els for Autism to Empower Adults with Autism

What happens when hospitality meets heart? At Courtyard Hotel Sandton, General Manager Shelley Steel welcomed a group of adults with autism from the Adult Programme for People with Autism (APP Autism) for a morning of learning in partnership with the Els for Autism Foundation, showcasing the power of inclusion and community.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect social interaction, communication, and behaviour, with each person’s abilities and needs unique. Some autistic adults live independently, while others require daily support.

Els for Autism works globally to transform lives through lifelong services and partnerships, while APP Autism provides local adults with a supportive environment to build independence, confidence, and everyday skills.

A Hands-On Learning Experience

After a training session at the Els for Autism Centre, seven young men joined trainers, facilitators, and representatives Yvette Young (APP Autism), Dave Arnold, and Johann Coetser (sponsor Auto X) at Courtyard Hotel Sandton.

Here, they learned practical hospitality skills that are just as valuable in everyday life, including:

• Making beds and changing pillowcases
• Folding towels
• Restocking beverage caddies
• Preparing fruit kebabs

Shelley and her team of housekeepers, chefs, and managers personally guided each participant, ensuring they felt supported and confident while engaging with tasks at their own pace.

Voices from the Day

Yvette Young, founder of APP Autism, highlighted the importance of such initiatives:

“Our lifelong learning programme caters to adults with a range of verbal, intellectual and social abilities. The challenge is to find work and activities suitable for each adult, that meet their abilities and sensory issues. We are always looking for ways to keep our beneficiaries engaged and learning new skills every day.”

Reflecting on the event, Shelley Steel said:

“We often take for granted that the world works in a way that makes sense to us. This was a wonderful opportunity to provide a safe space for these adults to learn hospitality skills. Once they tried folding towels, restocking tea and coffee stations, and threading kebabs in the kitchen, we all enjoyed lunch together – chicken and beef burgers, juice, and fruit kebabs.”

Adding to this, Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, COO of City Lodge Hotels, emphasised the reciprocal learning:

“The biggest achievement of the day was that the learning went both ways – we deepened our understanding of autism and reinforced our commitment to inclusion. With roughly 1 in 100 children worldwide estimated to be on the spectrum, welcoming and supporting autistic individuals as both guests and colleagues benefits us all.”

About the Partners

• APP Autism – A local programme supporting adults with autism through structured learning, independence, and community engagement. More at www.appautism.org.
• Els for Autism Foundation – A global organisation offering innovative services for individuals and families affected by autism. More at www.elsforautism.org.