For all the drama at the Gramercy Park Hotel, the latest situation happened totally under the radar: The U.S. Attorney's office filed a complaint against the hotel for "discrimination on the basis of disability in violation of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990." How so? The complaint alleges that the hotel did not have a Telephone Device for the Deaf, a fire alarm light, or a door knocker light, as requested by a hotel guest. This led the U.S. Attorney's office to launch an investigation, which found that the Gramercy Park Hotel's renovations had not corrected the ADA violations, and had actually added more, including architectural barriers, while leaving the best rooms inaccessible to people with disabilities.
We reached out to the hotel to find out more, and it turns out the two sides have resolved the complaint?with the hotel arguing that the current owners weren't actually responsible for any failure to comply with ADA regulations. Even so, the hotel has agreed to some modifications: it will replace two of the currently accessible rooms with one of the luxury suites and one of the luxury penthouses. The hotel will also have to remove some of the additional architectural barriers. Everybody happy now?
· Gramercy Park Hotel coverage [Curbed]
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