Data protection and accessibility for a boutique hotel website in Miami: what to require (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

A boutique hotel in Miami should require two verifiable things from its web provider before launch: clean data handling (privacy notice, cookie consent, minimal forms, a service provider agreement) and tested WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 AA accessibility, with an accessibility statement. For a hotel the stakes go beyond a brochure site: the ADA Reservations Rule requires describing accessible features and letting guests book an accessible room online on the same terms as other rooms. ADA Title III website suits are frequent in Florida, and these requirements belong in the quote, not after the first demand letter.

What should the data protection side cover?

Hotels in South Beach, Brickell, Coconut Grove or Little Havana, with 20 to 120 keys, host US, Latin American and European guests. The site collects little data itself if payment runs through the booking engine, but every form, advertising cookie and newsletter creates an obligation.

In Florida, the Florida Information Protection Act governs breach notification for personal information: ask for a written procedure. The Florida Digital Bill of Rights mainly targets very large companies (a very high global revenue threshold), so it generally does not reach an independent hotel; check with your counsel. If you actively target European guests, the GDPR may come into play for that processing. Card payments stay with the booking engine, which is responsible for PCI DSS compliance; booking engine integration is priced on quote. This is not legal advice.

Which accessibility requirements apply to a hotel?

The technical target is WCAG 2.1 or 2.2 AA: contrast, keyboard navigation, alt text, labelled forms, captioned video. The ADA Reservations Rule (28 CFR 36.302(e)) adds a hospitality-specific layer: describe accessible rooms and common areas in enough detail for a guest to judge whether they meet their needs, and allow those rooms to be booked online like any other. Check the exact obligations with your counsel.

In practice, require in the contract: an "Accessibility" page per room type (door widths, roll-in shower, grab bars, visual alarms), a booking engine that is itself tested, an accessibility statement with a contact, and an audit before launch.

These ranges reflect typical local agency quotes and public rate pages, not a single source. The Kolonell grid starts at Starter USD 2,900 and includes a project manager in your time zone, native copywriting and delivery in 3 to 4 weeks. Details on the international offer.

What is the pre-launch checklist?

• Privacy notice published in English and Spanish, linked from every form.
• Cookie banner tested: no advertising trackers before consent where consent is required.
• "Weddings and groups" form limited to useful fields, retention set (for example 24 months).
• Service provider agreement signed with the provider, with its subprocessor list.
• Keyboard and screen reader test on the homepage, rooms and booking path.
• Accessibility page per room type and accessibility statement published.
• Written breach procedure, with a contact and a deadline.

Mini case study

Illustrative example. Lucía Ferrer runs a 48-key boutique hotel in Coconut Grove, with 40% of guests from Latin America. A Brickell agency quotes USD 46,000 for a bilingual site. She picks Kolonell's Premium tier at USD 8,900 (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote), orders an accessibility audit from an independent auditor (third-party cost, USD 3,500) and detailed photos of the accessible rooms from a local photographer (third-party cost, USD 2,400).

Math: 8,900 + 3,500 + 2,400 = USD 14,800, which is USD 31,200 less than the local proposal, with an independent audit the local proposal did not include.

FAQ

Does the ADA Reservations Rule apply to my website?

It covers reservations made by hotels, including online, and requires describing accessible features and allowing accessible rooms to be booked. With 20 to 120 keys you are generally covered; check with your counsel.

Do I need a cookie banner for US guests?

No general federal law requires one, but if 15 to 30% of your guests come from Europe and you target them, the GDPR and EU cookie rules may apply. A well-built banner costs little and reduces that risk.

Who is responsible for card data?

The booking engine, which must be PCI DSS compliant. The site should never store card numbers; booking engine integration is priced on quote.

How much does an accessibility audit cost?

Expect USD 2,000 to 8,000 from a third-party auditor in Miami, depending on the number of templates and the booking path tested. An audit before launch costs far less than a settlement after a demand letter.

Does the Florida Digital Bill of Rights apply to me?

It targets companies with global revenue above USD 1 billion, plus other criteria. An independent hotel is generally outside its scope, but Florida's breach notification law still applies.

Let's scope your project. Tell us your room types, booking engine and languages: we price it on the USD 2,900 to 8,900 grid with launch in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.