Digital Hotelier - EAA Compliance: What it means for your hotel – Cendyn

June 2025

What is the EAA, and why does it matter to you?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU directive aimed at making digital and physical services more accessible to people with disabilities across Europe. Starting June 28, 2025, companies offering certain services in the EU must comply. The EAA covers a wide range of products and services, including:

Websites and mobile apps
Booking engines and e-commerce platforms
Ticketing, check-in machines, and ATMs
Telecom services
Audio-visual media
E-books and reading devices

For hoteliers, that means your booking engine, website, and digital experiences must be accessible to every guest, regardless of ability.

Why is this especially important in the EU?

EAA compliance is mandatory in all EU member states and EEA countries that adopt the directive. Even companies based outside the EU—yes, including those in the U.S., APAC, or elsewhere—must comply if they offer covered services to the EU market, such as booking tools, mobile apps, or e-commerce platforms.

What if my hotel is outside the EU, but serves EU guests?

You're not legally required to follow the EAA, but aligning with its standards can still be a smart move:

Better guest experience: European travelers may expect accessible experiences based on their local standards.
Inclusive reputation: Meeting global accessibility standards (like WCAG 2.2 AA) shows that your property values inclusivity and forward-thinking design.

How is Cendyn helping you stay compliant?

Our Booking Engine is already WCAG 2.1 AA compliant, and we're actively working towards WCAG 2.2 AA compliance in time to support EAA accessibility standards. Here’s what’s currently in place:

Alt Text for Images: Users can add descriptive text to images so assistive technologies can read room details, rates, and more.
Invisible reCAPTCHA: Our booking engine includes Google's invisible reCAPTCHA, removing the need for visual challenge tests—making the process easier for guests using screen readers.
ADA-Compliant Default Theme: The booking engine's default ADA theme meets WCAG standards, allowing guests to navigate using a keyboard or mouse, and with design elements that support screen readers and meet accessibility contrast and readability guidelines.
Accessibility Statement Field: You can include your own accessibility statement and contact information in the Booking Engine footer. Just click the user icon on Extranet, click My Booking Engines, then the Content Update icon.

Enter your message in the Accessibility Statement field and click Update.