accessibility
The Hospitality Industry’s Responsibility in Enhancing Disability Accessibility
Tanya Girdhar John | December 5, 2023
By Tanya Girdhar John Disability accessibility in hospitality is one of its most essential needs. According to an article by Skift more than half of hotels around the world don’t make it easy to book a room for senior citizens or guests with accessibility needs. While this may not be true for all hospitality businesses across the globe, the industry stakeholders have a responsibility to create spaces that cater to the diverse needs of their guests. In today’s inclusive world, ensuring accessibility for all is not only a legal requirement but also a moral imperative. But the concept of accessibility also impacts businesses fr...
ADA Update: New Website Accessibility Law Impacting Most Businesses
Jim Butler | October 31, 2023
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of HotelLawBlog.com Many hotel owners already know they need to pay attention to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance, both to provide a positive experience for guests and to avoid costly litigation. A proposed new California law, however, should bring their focus to website accessibility; if adopted, business owners, as well as their web developers, would be vulnerable to substantial statutory damages and attorney’s fee if sued by a plaintiff who succeeds in court. JMBM’s ADA Compliance and Defense Team outlines the potential impact of this law...
Supreme Court to Hear Landmark Hotel Case
AHLA | April 3, 2023
WASHINGTON (April 3, 2023) – After the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would hear the case of Acheson Hotels, LLC v. Laufer, American Hotel & Lodging Association President & CEO Chip Rogers released the following statement. “The Supreme Court’s decision to hear this case is welcome news for AHLA members,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. “Acheson Hotels, LLC v. Laufer is all about frivolous lawsuits brought by litigants alleging harm by hotels they have no intention of ever visiting. The justices have a chance to put a stop to this abuse of our legal system, and we are hopeful they will make the right c...
ADA Defense Lawyer: Whitaker v. Tesla Motors – the End of Cookie-Cutter ADA Complaints?
Jim Butler | February 17, 2021
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com For many years, businesses classed as public accommodations under the ADA have been the subject of “cookie-cutter” complaints that allege discriminatory conditions without providing any specific examples. Thousands of nearly identical complaints have been filed in federal courts nationwide, and their lack of detail makes it difficult for courts to provide a remedy that will prevent future harm. Martin Orlick, Chair of JMBM’s ADA Compliance & Defense Group, summarizes the recent decision in Whitaker v. Tesla Motors which may put an ...
Hotels Must List Accessible Features on the Web or Risk Lawsuits
Jim Butler | February 3, 2021
By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group® Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com As we’ve discussed in previous blogs, there has been an uptick in lawsuits filed against hotels alleging a failure to list accessible features on their website as required by the ADA. While many of these cases have been successfully defended in federal courts, new filings continue to surge and many plaintiffs are turning to state courts which have different requirements for dismissal. Martin Orlick, Chair of JMBM’s ADA Compliance & Defense Group, explains why we should expect these cases to continue in 2021 and what hotels should be...
Accessible Tourism Identified as ‘Game Changer’ for Destinations
UNWTO | December 3, 2020
Ensuring accessibility for tourists with specific access requirements can be a ‘game changer’ for destinations around the world as they look to bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic. A new set of Inclusive Recovery Guides from the World Tourism Organization, produced in partnership with the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), the ONCE Foundation of Spain and Travability from Australia, makes clear the importance of placing inclusivity at the centre of recovery plans and provides key recommendations for achieving this. Launched on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the UNWTO Inclusive Recovery Guid...
Making Your Website ADA Compliant: What Businesses Need to Know
Michael Del Gigante | February 25, 2020
By Michael Del Gigante Many businesses fail to take a key thing into account when developing and maintaining their websites: accessibility. Specifically, they don’t consider whether their sites meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While accessibility challenges aren’t new—websites have long been difficult to use for those with certain disabilities—a number of recent court cases have pushed the issue into the limelight and highlighted its importance. Why is accessibility so critical? What’s going on with the recent legal actions? How can you make your website ADA compliant? Here’s what ...
How Hoteliers Can Create ADA Compliant Content
Paul DeHart | September 12, 2019
The internet was not what it is today when The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. This law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life – jobs, schools, transportation, access to areas that are open to the general public - and has been extended since then to include websites and web applications. Courts today are interpreting Title III of the ADA, which requires places of “public accommodation” like hotels, to ensure that their web presences are accessible. A study published by Open Doors Organization found that American adults with...
