CHI CHI Hospitality Law & Ethics 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which US federal law prohibits lodging facilities from discriminating against guests based on race, color, religion, or national origin?
- The Fair Labor Standards Act
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title II) (Correct answer)
- The Family and Medical Leave Act
- The Americans with Disabilities Act
Correct answer: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title II)
Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation, including hotels and restaurants, based on race, color, religion, or national origin.
Question 2: What is the legal concept of 'innkeeper's lien' in US hospitality law?
- A hotel's right to hold a guest's belongings as security for unpaid bills (Correct answer)
- A guest's right to a refund for poor service
- A legal requirement to provide a safe for valuables
- A state inspection certificate for lodging properties
Correct answer: A hotel's right to hold a guest's belongings as security for unpaid bills
An innkeeper's lien allows a hotel to retain a guest's property as collateral until the guest pays for services rendered, recognized under common law in most US states.
Question 3: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), what must a hotel provide to a guest who is deaf and requests a visual alert system?
- A room upgrade at no charge
- Visual notification devices such as flashing alarms and a visual doorbell or knock alert (Correct answer)
- A dedicated staff member to relay communications
- A written transcript of all verbal communications
Correct answer: Visual notification devices such as flashing alarms and a visual doorbell or knock alert
The ADA requires hotels to provide visual alert systems, including flashing fire alarms and visual door knock alerts, as reasonable accommodations for guests who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Question 4: What does 'duty of care' mean for hospitality operators in US law?
- The obligation to offer complimentary amenities to all guests
- The legal responsibility to take reasonable steps to protect guests from foreseeable harm (Correct answer)
- The requirement to hire only licensed staff
- The duty to maintain a loyalty program
Correct answer: The legal responsibility to take reasonable steps to protect guests from foreseeable harm
Duty of care requires hospitality operators to act reasonably to prevent harm to guests, including maintaining safe premises, trained staff, and emergency protocols.
Question 5: Which ethical principle should guide a hospitality instructor when discussing how to handle a guest complaint that involves potential staff misconduct?
- Protect the staff member's reputation above all
- Follow a fair, documented investigation process that considers both guest and staff perspectives (Correct answer)
- Dismiss the complaint immediately to protect the brand
- Offer compensation without investigating to resolve it quickly
Correct answer: Follow a fair, documented investigation process that considers both guest and staff perspectives
Ethical handling of misconduct complaints requires a fair, documented investigation that respects all parties, which is also the standard taught in professional hospitality management.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of a hotel's 'safe harbor' policy for reporting workplace harassment?
- To protect the hotel from tax liability
- To encourage employees to report harassment without fear of retaliation (Correct answer)
- To limit the hotel's legal responsibility for guest injuries
- To shield managers from performance reviews
Correct answer: To encourage employees to report harassment without fear of retaliation
A safe harbor reporting policy creates a protected channel for employees to report harassment, meeting the employer's legal obligation under Title VII to prevent and address workplace harassment.
CHI CHI Hospitality Law & Ethics 1
Which US federal law prohibits lodging facilities from discriminating against guests based on race, color, religion, or national origin?