Compliance: Hotel Guest Room Dispersion
The ADA Standards for Accessible Design impacts guest room dispersion in the hotel industry.
Dispersion Requirements
The ADA requires that hotels provide guests with disabilities a range of equivalent guest room options provided to other guests. Accessible rooms need to be dispersed among various room classes (economy, standard, deluxe, a concierge level, etc) and types (number of beds, connecting rooms, etc).
The number of guest rooms governs the required number of accessible rooms with ‘mobility’ features and those with ‘communication’ features. Both must be dispersed throughout. The law states that there should be at least one room that can accommodate a guest with both a mobility and hearing/visual impairment but not more than 10% of accessible rooms can provide both mobility and communication features.
Because of unique factors, guest room dispersion is different for each property.
Dispersion Factors
As hotels add more room and amenity options to attract guests, the factors to consider for appropriate guest room dispersion increase. Some factors include:
- Number and size of beds
- Cost
- View
- Bathroom fixtures (hot tubs, spas)
- Connecting rooms
- Amenities
- Concierge level and lounge
When the minimum number of accessible guest rooms is not sufficient to allow for dispersion across the complete range of room options, guest rooms must be dispersed in the following priority:
- Guest room type
- Number of beds
- Amenities
With many diverse factors to consider, the path to complying with ADA Standards for guest room dispersion is complex. LCM has helped hotel brands, with properties ranging from 15 to 3,500 guest rooms, develop practical strategies. These strategies successfully expand guest room choices and access for people with disabilities.
LCM has consulted on ADA compliance for over 400 hotel properties. Alteration of interiors and public spaces as well as tester complaints are complex issues addressed in other installments of this hospitality series.
Because of unique factors, guest room dispersion is different for each property.