that were fighting the US Justice Department about renovating hotels to ensure they'll be accessible under the revised ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act?

When I read that story on a few industry web sites, I shook my head in wonder, sadness, and anger.  How dare they say they can't do these renovations to ensure accommodation for all people when they can continue to put in fancy TVs and more and more amenities!

Then I read this story in the 9.6.08 Washington Post about how China is handling the Paralympics and people with disabilities.  I know that there have been many issues in China and that accommodations for persons with disabilities are mediocre at best.  The United States has made such great strides since the first version of the ADA was passed in the early '90s that I'd hate to see us lose ground...and go back to being, at best, mediocre.  

When I first served as a delegate from MPI to the Convention Industry Council in the early '90s, I met Cricket Park who was then one of the few experts on the ADA in the hospitality industry.  I was taken with her passion for the issues and knowledge of what needed to be done.  (Cricket has gone on to become an Episcopal Priest in Ohio.)  Because of Cricket and others, our industry began to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities who travel and attend meetings.  Currently, in the APEX (Accepted Practices Exchange) glossary, there are two references to the ADA.  I wonder if that will have to be revised - it sounds like one of our industry associations is working hard to ensure that hotels will not be compliant. 

Don't you want to write to AH&LA's CEO, Joe McInerney, CHA at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , and the hotel companies and suggest this is, well, immoral at worst, and bad business at least?

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