In addition to regulating the design of hotel rooms, the Americans with Disabilities Act also mandates that hotels make public areas and amenities accessible to guests with disabilities. Travelers with disabilities frequently encounter issues with access to hotel amenities and services, and I will address the regulations concerning a couple of those here.
Swimming Pools
The 2010 ADA Standards require new and existing hotel swimming pools to be accessible to wheelchair users and guests with disabilities. The following regulatory deadlines were imposed:
- On or after March 15, 2012 — All newly constructed or altered hotel swimming pools must comply with the 2010 Standards.
- On or after January 31, 2013 — All existing hotel swimming pools must comply with the 2010 standards, to the extent required under title III readily achievable barrier removal requirements.
So, what are the ADA accessibility rules for hotel swimming pools?
Accessible Means of Entry
The 2010 Standards require hotels to provide at least two accessible means of entry to swimming pools (242.2). Smaller pools with less than 300 linear feet of swimming pool wall need only provide one accessible means of entry, but that must be either a pool lift or sloped entry.
The standards list five types of accessible entry accommodations: swimming [...]