Website accessibility is no longer just a “nice to have.” An inaccessible website can shut out guests with disabilities, frustrate users, and expose your property to real legal risk. Making your website ADA compliant isn’t just about avoiding lawsuits – it’s about inclusion, performance, and trust.
NB: This is an article from Vizergy
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The legal landscape: accessibility lawsuits on the rise
Digital-accessibility lawsuits have become a consistent trend. Industry trackers report more than 4,000 ADA-related digital accessibility lawsuits filed in 2024, and over 2,000 more in the first half of 2025.
A small group of plaintiffs and law firms drive many of these cases, often focusing on common, easily preventable website issues. Even when claims are settled, the costs of remediation and legal fees can add up quickly.
Bottom line: The risk is real, and the best defense is a proactive, well-documented accessibility strategy.
What defines website accessibility?
While there’s no single “official” ADA website checklist, courts and accessibility experts generally refer to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as the standard. WCAG is built around four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR), with testable criteria at Levels A, AA, and AAA.
For most hotels, aiming for WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 Level AA compliance is considered the best practice.
Common accessibility issues include:
- Missing or incorrect alt text for images (screen readers can’t describe visuals)
- Poor color contrast that makes text difficult to read
- Lack of keyboard accessibility for users who can’t use a mouse
- Inaccessible forms, unlabeled inputs, or unclear error messages
- Videos without captions or transcripts
- PDFs and other downloads that aren’t optimized for accessibility
These are often simple to fix, but they require regular monitoring and training to prevent them from reappearing.
Why accessibility matters for hotels
Accessibility isn’t just about compliance. It’s about creating a digital experience that welcomes every guest. For hotels, that means ensuring your website works seamlessly for everyone who wants to explore, book, or connect with your property.
