A client of mine that operates two historic hotels was just sued under the ADA because their websites are not compliant. Under 28 CFR 36.302 (e), hotels must have websites that allow for disabled users to be able to book reservations as easily as non-disabled guests.
I’m wondering if Wix websites for the hospitality industry (I believe there is an equivalent regulation for restaurants and event venues) are compliant, or if there are ways to make them compliant, and if anyone has experience with these regulations. I’ll list the appropriate regulations below.
(e)
(1) Reservations made by places of lodging. A public accommodation that owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of lodging shall, with respect to reservations made by any means, including by telephone, in-person, or through a third party -
(i) Modify its policies, practices, or procedures to ensure that individuals with disabilities can make reservations for accessible guest rooms during the same hours and in the same manner as individuals who do not need accessible rooms;
(ii) Identify and describe accessible features in the hotels and guest rooms offered through its reservations service in enough detail to reasonably permit individuals with disabilities to assess independently whether a given hotel or guest room meets his or her accessibility needs;
(iii) Ensure that accessible guest rooms are held for use by individuals with disabilities until all other guest rooms of that type have been rented and the accessible room requested is the only remaining room of that type;
(iv) Reserve, upon request, accessible guest rooms or specific types of guest rooms and ensure that the guest rooms requested are blocked and removed from all reservations systems; and
(v) Guarantee that the specific accessible guest room reserved through its reservations service is held for the reserving customer, regardless of whether a specific room is held in response to reservations made by others.
(2) Exception. The requirements in paragraphs (iii), (iv), and (v) of this section do not apply to reservations for individual guest rooms or other units not owned or substantially controlled by the entity that owns, leases, or operates the overall facility .
(3) Compliance date. The requirements in this section will apply to reservations made on or after March 15, 2012.