Hotels are one of the most important public accommodations available for travelers. Whether someone is on vacation, visiting their hometown for a family funeral or conducting business, they may require temporary lodgings. Hotels, motels and similar facilities help keep the economy moving and provide crucial services to the public.
However, these businesses could face financial and legal challenges if there are complaints about accessibility issues. People can bring complaints under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when they cannot properly access a hotel and its amenities. As such, making sure that doorways and hallways are wheelchair accessible is an important part of ADA compliance.
Mobility assistance requires more space
Whether someone needs to use a wheelchair or crutches to get around, they may need more space than the average person navigating the space inside a hotel. The ADA imposes numerous specific requirements on public facilities to help ensure that they are as accessible as possible.
Ensuring accessible doors and halls is important for ADA compliance. While not every door and hallway in a hotel needs to meet the ADA standards, the more of them that do, the less likely the business is to face complaints in the future.
In general, doorways typically need to be at least 32 inches wide. Doorways that are even wider can be a smart decision when investing in new construction or remodeling projects. Hallways need to be even wider. To be wheelchair accessible, a hallway needs to be at least 36 inches wide.
If individuals who use mobility assistance tools cannot navigate the doors and halls at a hotel, they might initiate an ADA compliance lawsuit. Proactively complying with ADA requirements may benefit those operating hotels who are eager to reduce the risk of a potentially expensive citation.