The Future of Digital Accessibility: The European Accessibility Act

In June 2025 the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will be coming into full effect. At Profitroom, we are innovating our Booking Engine to meet these new standards so that our hotel partners remain compliant and continue to offer accessible services to all guests.

Let’s talk about Accessibility 

Did you know that approximately 80 million people in the EU have a disability? Accessibility is not just a legal obligation but a commitment to inclusivity and providing a more equal human experience. When digital platforms are accessible, we can all cater to a broader, fuller audience. For hoteliers, this means providing an online booking experience that is navigable and usable for everyone: ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and expanding your market reach.

So what is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?

The EAA was created by the European Union to establish standard accessibility requirements across member states. The aim is for products and services, especially digital ones, to be accessible to people with disabilities - this includes websites, mobile applications, e-commerce platforms, and, for hoteliers, online booking systems. The act mandates that by 28 June 2025, all relevant products and services must comply with these accessibility standards. 

How is this different from the WCAG?

There is significant overlap between the EAA and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). While the EAA is a legislative act that mandates accessibility requirements within the EU, the WCAG provides a set of guidelines and technical standards for web accessibility. In essence, the EAA tells us what needs to be accessible, and the WCAG explains how to achieve that accessibility. Basically, if you adhere to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, you will also meet the requirements set by the EAA. 

What’s being changed?

The EAA requires that all websites and mobile applications must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users with various disabilities. For hoteliers, this means that booking engines and other online services must be designed and maintained to meet these standards. Non-compliance can lead to penalties, including fines and potential legal actions, as well as likely reputational damage. 

Profitroom's Commitment to Compliance

At Profitroom, we recognize the importance of these regulations and are dedicated to ensuring that our Booking Engine is fully compliant with the EAA. We are implementing enhancements to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA standards, which serve as a benchmark for accessibility. These improvements include:

• Perceivability: Verifying that all content is presented in ways that can be perceived by all users, such as providing text alternatives for non-text content.
• Operability: Making all functionalities available from a keyboard and providing users enough time to read and use content.
• Understandability: Making sure that text is readable and understandable, and that the Book Engine appears and operates in predictable ways.
• Robustness: Maximising compatibility with current and future user tools, including assistive technologies.

By integrating these principles, we aim to continue to provide a Booking Engine that is not only compliant but also offers an exceptional user experience for all guests.

Website Accessibility - A Comprehensive Approach

In addition to updating our Booking Engine, we will also be adapting the websites offered by Profitroom (both template-based and custom-designed) to meet the requirements of the EAA. Since 2024, we have been working intensively to implement full accessibility across our websites. We are modernising interface elements, modules, and components to ensure compliance with WCAG guidelines. We will conduct thorough testing to confirm that our websites meet all necessary standards and provide a seamless experience for every user, regardless of their needs. Our goal is to be fully prepared by June 2025, ensuring that our partners can comply with the new regulations from day one.

Responsibilities of Hoteliers

While Profitroom is committed to ensuring that our Booking Engine is compliant, hoteliers will also play a crucial role in accessibility after the 28th of June. Key responsibilities include:

• Design Choices: Selecting branding colors that provide sufficient contrast to ensure readability for all users.
• Content Management: Adding alternative text descriptions to images, which assist screen readers in conveying information to visually impaired users.
• Regular Audits: Conducting periodic reviews of content to ensure ongoing compliance with accessibility standards.

On our end, we are working on additional options within the Profitroom Suite to support hoteliers in managing these responsibilities. By taking these steps in the future, hoteliers can ensure that their entire digital presence, beyond just the booking engine, is accessible and welcoming to all guests.

Conclusion

The upcoming EAA compliance deadline in June 2025 underscores the importance of accessibility in the digital landscape. We are already enhancing our Booking Engine to meet these standards so that our partners can continue to provide exceptional and inclusive experiences for all guests. By working together, we can embrace these changes and create a more accessible future for the hospitality industry.