Justice Department Secures Agreement with Hotel in Austin to Ensure Access for People with Disabilities

AUSTIN, Texas – The United States reached a letter agreement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) with the Hilton Garden Inn Austin University Capitol District, to resolve alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The agreement requires the hotel to train its staff and provide equal service to customers with disabilities.

The Department of Justice received an ADA complaint alleging that after reserving an accessible room, when an individual with a disability attempted to check-in, the Hilton Garden Inn provided a standard room that lacked bathroom grab bars or shower accommodations. This left the complainant without a usable bathroom during her stay. The complaint prompted an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. The ADA requires that hotels provide access to individuals with disabilities, including honoring reservations, providing fully accessible rooms, and making accommodations.

“For people with disabilities, travel can be stressful due to concerns that they won’t have basic accommodations, such as a place to sleep at night or access to appropriate hygiene facilities,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “People with disabilities should not be denied these necessities in lodging. The ADA ensures that all people traveling with disabilities who are traveling can find hotels that will provide equal access to their rooms and facilities.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Liane Noble represented the government during the resolution process.

For more information about the ADA, visit www.ada.gov, or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

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