United States of America v. Hilton Worldwide Inc. - Consent Decree

20. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS

(a) Within 60 days of the Consent Decree Date, HWI will submit all existing prototype building plans or designs currently in use to an ADA consultant approved by the United States for review regarding compliance with the ADA. The ADA consultant shall notify HWI in writing of any elements in the plans and designs that the ADA consultant deems non-compliant with the ADA Standards. HWI shall work in good faith with the ADA consultant to correct all such noncompliance in such plans and designs.

(b) For the term of the Consent Decree, to the extent that HWI creates new prototype building plans or designs for accessible rooms or other elements required to be accessible ( e.g., signage, front desk counter) for any Brand, it shall ensure that such designs comply with the ADA Standards. To the extent that the new prototype building plans or designs show elements or spaces required to be accessible under the ADA Standards, they shall specify the measurements required by the ADA Standards for these elements. All such new prototype plans or designs shall be submitted to an ADA consultant who has been approved by the United States for review prior to the new prototype plans or designs being used. Within 30 days of receipt of such plans and designs, the ADA consultant shall notify HWI in writing of any elements in the plans and designs that the ADA consultant deems non-compliant with the ADA Standards. HWI shall work in good faith with the ADA consultant to correct all such noncompliance in such plans and designs.

(c) HWI will continue to specify in the applicable design and construction standards for all Brand Hotels that such hotels shall comply with all federal, state, and local laws. In addition, HWI will, no later than one year after the Consent Decree Date, submit to the United States for review and approval a web-based design guide that identifies the ADA Standards requirements for: (1) registration and other service counters; (2) accessible guest room numbers and dispersion; (3) accessible public restrooms; (4) accessible tables in food and beverage areas; (5) accessible parking; (6) accessible routes to and throughout the hotel; (7) door widths and maneuvering clearances; (8) accessible elements within an accessible guest room, including toilets, tubs, showers, sinks, closets, thermostats and controls, draperies, doorways, and maneuvering spaces around beds; and (9) room dispersion as set forth in Paragraph15(b). Within six months of receiving the United States’ approval of the design guide content, HWI shall distribute the design guide to all Brand Hotels via web-based application. The web-based design guide shall state that the identified ADA Standards requirements are only some of the ADA Standards and shall refer users to the ADA Standards for a complete set of requirements.