Pennsylvania Convention Center Debuts New Sensory Room for Neurodivergent Event Customers and Staff
PHILADELPHIA – The Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) debuted its new sensory room during the Professional Convention Management Association’s (PCMA) annual signature event, Convening Leaders 2026. The specially designed sensory room will provide neurodivergent event customers and staff with a calming and controlled sensory-focused environment to help regulate emotions, reduce stress, and create a therapeutic experience.
“This new addition to the Pennsylvania Convention Center is part of our ongoing commitment to accessibility,” said John McNichol, president and CEO, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority. “With the guidance and support from some of our partners at the Comcast Technology Center, Xfinity Mobile Arena, the Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), we were able to make thoughtful and informed design choices for this space to ensure it provides the welcoming and inclusive experience that neurodivergent customers and staff need.”
The room design was customized to include features such as soft lighting, various comfortable seating options, stress toys, a bubble tube, and other sensory tools and aids. The Center also intends to equip the room with sensory kits that will include items such as blue light glasses and earplugs.
In 2025, the PCC became the first Sage Accessibility Certified convention center, affirming the facility’s commitment to meeting accessibility standards for individuals with mobility, visual, hearing, cognitive, and allergy-related disabilities. Following the certification, the PCC continued to focus its efforts on enhancing its amenities for guests and staff, leading to the addition of the sensory room. Additionally, approximately 100 employees from the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, Legends Global, and Aramark teams have completed Accessibility Customer Service Trainings facilitated by John Sage, founder and CEO of Accessible Travel Solutions (formerly Sage Inclusion).
“Achieving the Sage Inclusion accessibility certification positioned the Pennsylvania Convention Center as an industry leader in accessibility,” said Tony Hodgins CEM, CMP, regional general manager for Legends Global, which manages the venue. “Removing the barriers to accessibility at the Center continues to be a top priority for our team, and thanks to the significant investments of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, we will continue to enhance our offerings to ensure that the Pennsylvania Convention Center remains a welcoming environment for all.”
The Center will continue to partner with the Jefferson Autism Center of Excellence and CHOP to provide additional staff training and room design expertise.
About the Pennsylvania Convention Center
The Pennsylvania Convention Center is located in Center City Philadelphia at the heart of the city's many cultural offerings and world-class dining and entertainment scene. Managed by Legends Global, the Center is the 14th largest facility in the nation and features one of the largest exhibit spaces and ballrooms in the Northeastern U.S. The meetings, conventions, trade shows, and other events hosted by the Center attract attendees from across the country and around the world to Philadelphia, making the facility the largest economic driver of the region’s hospitality industry.
For more information, visit www.paconvention.com.
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Pete Peterson
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