The U.S. Department of Justice recently reached a settlement agreement with the owners and operators of the Springfield Crowne Plaza Hotel, after being found not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Under the agreement, Driftwood Hospitality Management, LLC, and 3000 S. Dirksen LP, will be required to renovate its facilities by adding 11 new accessible rooms and eliminating barriers in existing rooms according to a news release from the department.
The department received a complaint from a person with a disability, alleging a room they had reserved did not have toilet handrails or an accessible shower. The hotel provided the complainant a second room, but it too lacked toilet handrails, had broken toilet seat hinge and an inaccessible shower.
An investigation conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois discovered the Crowne Plaza does not maintain the number of accessible rooms required by the ADA and that many of its existing accessible rooms may contain barriers prohibited by the ADA.
“People with disabilities must be able to travel without sacrificing their independence when simply trying to find a place to sleep, shower, or use the bathroom,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua I. Grant for the Central District of Illinois, who represented the government in the case, said in a news release. “We appreciate the hotel’s prompt action to renovate its facilities to ensure equal access for all and we encourage all hotels in the Central District of Illinois to ensure their rooms are accessible as required by the ADA.”
In addition to the renovations, Driftwood Hospitality will also create an ADA policy and provide ADA training for all hotels it owns, operations, and manages, including the Crowne Plaza. Without admitting to violating the ADA, the hotel also agreed to a monetary payment to the complainant to fully resolve the matter.
Contact Patrick M. Keck: pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter.
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