hospitality

On Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 1 p.m. EST, join Jordan B. Schwartz and Megan S. Shaked for a webinar regarding How to Best Ensure ADA Compliance for Your Property’s Website.

Another year has gone by, and yet the lawsuits filed against hotels and other places of public accommodation alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) continues to increase. We still see hundreds of lawsuits filed each month against hotels for their failure to identify and describe accessible features at their properties in sufficient detail on their websites. Many of these lawsuits continue to allege that Online Travel Agencies (“OTAs”) such Expedia, Hotels.com, or Orbitz fail to provide information about the accessible amenities of the hotel, including its rooms, to individuals with disabilities, or fail to allow an individual with a disability to book an accessible guestroom. While it may seem counterintuitive that a Hotel would be responsible for the information provided on the OTAs website, that often is the case.

A ton of ADA lawsuits also continue to be filed every day alleging that hotel websites cannot be used by individuals with visual or hearing impairments (in particular websites that utilize PDFs). Thus, it is extremely important that businesses ensure the accessibility of their websites while also providing an appropriate “accessibility statement” explaining to users the steps you have taken to improve your website’s accessibility.

During this webinar, participants will learn about: Continue reading →

It is no secret that during the last few years, we have seen a surge in class action lawsuits alleging a variety of improper tip practices against restaurants and other employers in the hospitality industry. These lawsuits are typically brought under both the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), which governs which employees are eligible to share in tips, as well as analogous state and local laws. These laws are extremely nuanced and complex, with violations often resulting in significant liability.

For these and other reasons, on October 14, 2015, Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group announced that starting in November, it will begin eliminating tips at each of its thirteen full-service venues, and implement a new program called “Hospitality Included.” While several high-end restaurants in New York City and Los Angeles have already eliminated tipping the past few years, this new program is extremely significant, as it is the first time a major American restaurant group will institute a zero-gratuity policy. You can read more about Danny Meyer’s program here.