Accessible Lodging

Definition: What is a “Place of Lodging”?

Places of lodging include:

• Hotels
• Motels
• Inns
• Other facilities that offer sleeping rooms for short-term stays (generally 30 days or less) and meet certain conditions.
• Any entity that owns, operates, leases, or leases to such a place is covered by the regulations.
• Exception: Facilities that contain no more than five rooms for rent and where the proprietor actually resides.

Revised Standards for Buildings and Facilities

The 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design include revised minimum requirements for newly and constructed or altered facilities so that they are accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. Minimum requirements:

• Accessible guest rooms with mobility and communication features dispersed among the different categories or classes of guest rooms available in the facility.
• Amenities such as swimming pools and spas, exercise facilities, saunas and steam rooms, golf and miniature golf courses, boating and fishing facilities, and playgrounds for children must be accessible and usable by people with disabilities.

Newly designed and constructed places of lodging must comply with the new 2010 ADA Standards, and alterations to an existing building must comply to the maximum extent feasible. For existing buildings that are not undergoing alterations, owners still have an obligation to remove barriers to the extent that is readily achievable. 

For those existing elements of a facility that were constructed or altered in compliance with the 1991 ADA Standards, no changes are necessary even if the new 2010 ADA Standards have different requirements for those elements. This situation is referred to as “safe harbor.”  Safe harbor does not apply to those elements of a facility, like swimming pools, saunas and playgrounds that were not covered in the 1991 ADA Standards. However, when an alteration is performed, it must comply with the new 2010 ADA Standards. In cases where the nature of the facility makes full compliance with the 2010 ADA Standards virtually impossible, the alteration must provide the maximum physical accessibility that is feasible.

Reservation Systems Requirements for Places of Lodging

• Places of lodging must identify and describe the accessible features of the property and the accessible guest rooms in enough detail to enable an individual to decide if the facility will meet his or her needs. Information, including photos or other images, may be posted on websites or included in brochures or other materials.
• People with disabilities must be able to make reservations for accessible guest rooms during the same hours and in the same ways that other people are able to make reservations such as by telephone, in person, email, via websites, or through third parties (travel agents or online reservations services).
• Places of lodging must provide accessible rooms to at least some of the third parties, and provide these third parties with information about the accessible features of the facility and the guest rooms.
• Customer service staff must be trained to respond to specific inquiries about the features of the facility including:
  • Accessible routes to and through the facility;
  • Details about the configuration of accessible guest rooms and bathrooms;
  • The availability of accessibility equipment or features such as bath benches, or visual alarm and alert devices for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing; and
  • The accessibility of common spaces such as meeting rooms, lounges, restaurants, swimming pools, or fitness centers.
• Accessible guest rooms must be held back until all other rooms of that type have been rented.
• When a reservation is made for an accessible guest room, the specific accessible guest room reserved must be held for the reserving customer and the room must be removed from the reservation system.

To improve accessibility of places of lodging:

• Ensure beds are of an accessible height (recommended bed height is between 20 to 23 inches from the floor to top of the mattress).
• Ensure that portable shower seats are safe and accessible, providing such features as a seat back, adequate structural strength, sufficient seat depth, and non-slip caps on seat legs. Where folding shower seats are installed on the walls of accessible shower compartments, the 2010 ADA Standards contains a number of technical requirements including the appropriate seat placement so that the seat is usable and the shower controls are within reach.
• Include multiple outlets and cords.
• Training hotel staff on:
  • General ADA regulations
  • Accessibility features available for guests.
  • The use of respectful language and practices for guests with disabilities
  • Effective communication practices that would benefit guests who are deaf or hard of hearing
  • Hotel policies addressing use of service animals

Resources

Hospitality and Disability Initiative, Mid-Atlantic ADA Center

Find materials, resources, and training to help hospitality businesses reach and serve customers with disabilities.

U.S. Department of Justice

Find the regulations for Title III/public accommodations, the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, and a variety of technical assistance materials.

U.S. Access Board

Find the ADA Standards along with technical assistance materials, including design guides for recreational facilities.