Have you ever arrived at a hotel, reservation in hand, only to discover that your accessible room had been given to another guest? Well, unfortunately you’re not alone. More and more travelers are learning that a reservation by itself doesn’t necessarily guarantee you’ll be assigned an accessible room when you arrive.

Truth is, although most hotels have reservation software capable of reserving specific rooms, not all properties fully utilize this feature. For example, some properties have not flagged their accessible rooms in the computer system, so it’s impossible for reservation clerks to block them.

In other cases, hotels will not move guests who unexpectedly extend their stays, even if they don’t need the accessible rooms they are occupying. And finally, some properties just flat out don’t understand the necessity of blocking accessible rooms.

Block, Don't Guarantee, Your Accessible Room
The only way to determine if a property routinely blocks their accessible rooms upon reservation is to ask, but be careful how you phrase your query. Many people ask if the property will “guarantee” the room. This is the wrong terminology, as in hotel-speak “guarantee” means “to secure with a credit card deposit.”

The correct way to phrase your question is, “Can you block that accessible room for me?” In hotel terminology, “block” means to reserve a specific room for a specific guest. If the clerk says “no” or “sometimes” or hems and haws in any way, then select another property. After all, if the accessible room that you reserve isn’t available for you when you arrive, what good is your reservation?

Of course, even if you ask the right questions, you still might have to go through a few properties before you get the appropriate response. In the end, it’s a numbers game. You just have to keep calling until you find a property that blocks accessible rooms. The best way to speed up your search is to begin with properties that have a better-than-average chance of answering your query affirmatively.

Where to Go to Insure Your Accessible Room
Here are a few places to start:

• Many smaller properties, including B&Bs and inns, have the ability to reserve specific rooms. In fact, it’s standard practice at many B&Bs to reserve a specific room for each guest. Additionally, innkeepers are experts (and very honest) about their access features.
• Microtel Former Microtel President Michael Levin was at the forefront of the accessibility movement in the mid-1990s when he instituted a  policy to block all accessible rooms upon reservation. This policy continues today under new management. Microtel gets high marks for attitude and access.
• Hampton Inns have been very proactive about blocking accessible rooms. This is not a system wide policy, so make sure and inquire directly with the property.
• Under the terms of a 1996 Department of Justice (DOJ) settlement, all Marriott Courtyard properties are required to block their accessible rooms.
• All BASS Properties (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites) are required to block their accessible rooms under the terms of a 1998 DOJ settlement.

So the next time you reserve an accessible room, remember: it’s not really reserved unless it’s blocked.

Candy Harrington is the editor of Emerging Horizons and the author of Barrier-Free Travel: A Nuts and Bolts Guide For Wheelers and Slow Walkers. Visit her blog at www.BarrierFreeTravels.com for access news, resources and industry updates.

See Related Articles
Read Finding an Accessible Room Beyond ADA Compliance to learn more about accessible hotel rooms.

See In Search of an Accessible Vacation Home for more information about ensuring adaptable accommodations for travelers with disabilities.