You may have invested in tools and vendors that promise to improve your website if you work in the hospitality sector. “ADA compliant.” You may have added overlays or automated scans to your website, or rebuilt it with accessibility in consideration. You did everything right—or so you thought. Why are hotels still being sued over accessibility?
This is the unpleasant truth: A frivolous lawsuit is impossible to stop.
Accessibility tools are helpful—they flag issues, automate fixes, and support screen readers and keyboard navigation. What they cannot do is prevent a legal complaint landing in your email.
What most accessibility tools won’t protect against
1. Frivolous Lawsuits
Hotel websites are getting automated demand letters, regardless of WCAG guidelines. Sometimes, these claims aren’t even based on real user experiences—just third-party “testers” looking for quick settlements. Your brand is well-known or your property in a prominent location? You’re an even bigger target.
2. Settlement Fees
Most hotels agree to settle their disputes, not for any reason other than it’s cheaper and faster than suing. Settlements of this nature can be costly, particularly for large hotel groups.
3. Legal Fees
Accessibility tools cannot cover attorney fees, even if a fight is chosen. The fees for hiring an attorney to answer a demand letter, or to enter litigation can be significant. Your widget will not cover these costs.
Why is this important?
You paid for the audit. You paid the audit. You believed you were in the clear.
You’re certainly not alone. There are many hotel owners and marketing teams who believe that they have the answer. “Checked box” And can move on. It’s important to remember that website accessibility isn’t something you can do once and forget about. You will not be lawsuit-proof with any tool. But transparency, documentation, and a realistic view of the legal landscape can help you navigate this complex issue — and protect your hotel from being an easy target.
Find out more about Tambourine’s Accessibility Protection Service, which protects hotels against frivolous lawsuits and legal fees. Let’s talk.
This article was first published on Instrumental Tactics.
Thomas McDermott
Senior Vice-President of Corporate Marketing
+1 954 975 2220
Tambourine
