Travel Facilitated by Accessible Hotels

Architectural barriers in hotels can be a serious barrier to travel for people with disabilities. People with disabilities count on accessible hotel rooms, restaurants, meeting rooms, and other amenities, whether they travel for work or pleasure. Captioned televisions, Braille signage on guestroom doors, and check-in areas at accessible heights are important accommodations for travelers with disabilities.

The State of Texas contracts with many hotels and motels, both in and out of state, to provide travel services for state employees. The General Services Commission (GSC) is the state agency responsible for administering these contracts. With the assistance of the Governor's Committee and the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, GSC included more detailed questions about accessibility in the questionnaire sent to hotels that contract with the state.

In 2000, over 700 hotels in the state of Texas signed contracts with GSC. One-third of those hotels had obtained a certificate of substantial compliance with the Texas Accessibility Standards from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. However, 95% of hotels reported having rooms that were fully or partially accessible, and 96% of the hotels reported that they had accessible parking for people with disabilities. Eighty-two percent reported that routes to and from guestrooms, the lobby, and common areas were accessible, with 11% reporting partial accessibility. Two-thirds of all hotels and motels surveyed reported that they had full access for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, including rooms with TTY devices and captioned televisions. Forty-nine percent reported that their lobbies and entrance areas were fully accessible, which includes such things as lowered heights at registration counters. Fifty-two percent reported that guestrooms and common areas had Braille signage.