3 January 2011
Click here for the latest articles on ADA Compliance and Defense.
Hotel ADA & Compliance Defense Lawyer update: We warned you about the Department of Justice (DOJ) conducting ADA “sweeps” in regions near you (Implications of the latest ADA enforcement “sweeps” against hotels in Portland and San Francisco, Is the DOJ’s ADA Compliance Survey Coming to Your City Soon? What to do when you receive the DOJ’s ADA Compliance Review questionnaire) but now we have information about the outcome of one such sweep.
Hilton Worldwide, Inc. and the DOJ came to an agreement on November 9, 2010 to make ADA changes to approximately 900 hotels internationally. Beyond the removal of architectural barriers, the changes include providing disabled guests the same room choices as other guests, guaranteeing accessible rooms will be available when they have been reserved, and making the central Internet reservation system more accessible. The agreement includes not only Hilton-owned properties, but properties where Hilton is the manager or franchisor. Click here to see the Hilton Consent Decree in US v Hilton Worldwide Inc.
Read on for a breakdown of what precedent-setting changes the Consent Decree contains and what accessibility issues you should consider before the DOJ visits your hotel.