Let me start by saying that my wife and I come to Alice a few times per year for business. We have stayed at other hotels, but generally, we like this one the best. Until this trip on June 8, I liked this hotel a lot. Unfortunately, the check-in person has made me re-think this opinion.
I am blind, and I travel with a guide dog. The person checking me in, suddenly asked me during the check-in process, what my dog's name was. At first, I thought it was genuine curiosity since I get this question asked many times. Since I don't want my dog distracted by people who might say his name, I gave the person my dog's pseudo name, or street name. Then, I found out he was filling out a pet form. I asked him to tell me more about this form, and he said it was required for everyone who stayed with them if they had a pet. I reminded him my dog was not a pet and he himself even asked about my service animal. He said that regardless of what it was, they were still required to fill out this form. Although I was not okay with this, considering that the Americans with Disabilities Act doesn't require this, I was willing to let it go. However, adding insult to injury, he hands my sighted driver a door sign that warns people that there is a dog in the room. Considering that my dog will be with me at all times, I see this as labeling me and separating me from the general public. I am happy to say that I did not put the sign up. This person needs to be educated.