How hoteliers can adapt to the evolving needs of website accessibility

As places of public accommodation, hotels in the U.S. and their websites need to meet certain accessibility requirements

Speaking during the Hospitality Law Conference, attorney Jordan Schwartz explained those accommodations could be physical, such as adding a ramp or installing grab bars, or digital, such as written descriptions of pictures or captioning for videos. Accessibility also includes having online descriptions of the accessibility features at hotels.

Key takeaways

• Schwartz said Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to places of public accommodations, such as restaurants or hotels, and it prevents them from denying service and accommodations to someone with a disability;
• One common misconception Schwartz said he wanted to clear up is that just because a hotel was built before 1991, when the ADA became a law, it is not grandfathered in. Older properties still need to make the necessary accommodations;
• Hoteliers can turn to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, or WCAG, for general guidance on how to implement accessibility features into their websites.

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