How Hotels, Resorts, etc., Can Improve Accessibility Without Spending a Bunch of Money

It’s simple, really. On your website have:

1. Pictures of your accessible rooms of each type (standard room, suite, etc.,) including the bathroom.
2. Instead of saying things like “Our accessible rooms can accommodate most standard electric and manual wheelchairs”, give measurements for things in both inches and centimeters. Measure the width of any doors (including closets) as well as the height of fixtures like sinks or counter tops.
3. A description of each type of accessible room that covers things like where the main power outlets are in the room, the distance between bed(s) and the nearest wall, and the distance between the TV and foot of the bed.
4. Have a separate page on your site called “Accessibility” (or whatever your site’s copy editor agrees to) where you call out any unique accommodations your establishment might have that would help a customer with an accessibility requirement (e.g., a TTY in every accessible room, roll in showers, special accommodations for service animals, etc.,). Separate the list of accommodations by the type of disability they serve (visual, hearing, etc.,)
5. Provide an online form specifically for answering questions about accessibility.

Here’s the truth about accessibility in hotels: If a hotel is accessible enough to remove a stress‐point from my travels, I will always stay at that hotel or chain of hotels. That hotel will have won a customer for life. There’s nothing that brings me more joy than staying at a place that cares about every type of customer that comes through its doors.