Best Western Nursanickel Hotel — Hotel in Dalhart

After at least 20 stays at this hotel, they have lost my business. The last time I stayed there, Gabriel, who was working the overnight shift at the front desk, was extremely rude to me, and blatantly violated ADA federal law. I travel with a legitimate, medically necessary Service Dog to assist me with a disability. My life depends on my medical alert service dog. I have always had my service dog with me when I've stayed at this hotel, without any issues from the staff, until this last stay.

Among other false statements, Gabriel quoted several "rules" to me that blatantly violated federal ADA laws, including such things as, "Service dogs are actually pets, we just can't charge a fee for them." (This is absolutely false-- Service dogs are medical equipment under the law, not pets. He also told me that he could charge me a $100 pet deposit for my service dog if he wanted to--also false, and a violation of the law. Again, since Service dogs are medical equipment, not pets, they cannot charge a deposit for them. Would they charge a deposit for a wheelchair? No? Then they can't charge a deposit for my medical equipment either, which happens to be a service dog. In general, Gabriel was extremely rude and condescending, and absolutely wrong in his statements regarding my service dog.

It was very late at night when I arrived after a long trip there, and I just didn't have it in me to argue with this man or point out that he violated the law multiple times

I may even contact the general manager of the hotel, the franchise owner, Best Western corporate, and possibly Best Western legal counsel, as this is a legal compliance matter, and it is absolutely not okay. I may report them to the Department of Justice as well, which is where you make complaints for ADA violations.

I liked staying at this hotel because it was convenient and safe, but I will not stand for the treatment I received last time I was there. The last thing a disabled person needs while traveling is to be hassled by the front desk of a hotel. I will definitely be making arrangements with another hotel next time I am...

Barry Sukha,

As a trained disability advocate I wish to weigh in on this heinous service dog issue that you seem to have developed. It seems that you are woefully uninformed which is legally dangerous and unfairly impacts vulnerable people.

While ALL places of public accommodation may ask 2-3 questions depending on how you phrase it which are the following

Are you disabled? Is that dog a service dog? What is that dog trained to do to assist you?

...that is IT! You may not know the exact nature of the disability and may not pry to find out more details. You may not attempt to verify that the dog is a service dog through some kind of licensing or paperwork- legally there is none, any paperwork that someone wants to provide means nothing legally. You may not charge a pet fee for a service dog as it is legally a medical device the same as an oxygen tank or a wheelchair- so it is inappropriate to even bring up. The person may answer what the dog is trained to do to assist as specifically or as vaguely as they see fit to do. You may not decide whether or not the person is disabled, you may not argue with the person about whether they need a stated task or not. You may not otherwise debate with them about their service dog in any other way. The last person that did that to me paid, in most part, for the acre I now live on in the country. I am very sure that a disabled patron would be more than willing to have you volunteer to do the same for them, should you insist by continuing the illegal behavior.

Again...you MAY ask these questions and these questions ONLY, and any disabled service dog handler is expecting the questions, that is fine, then you have to drop it and treat them as if the dog doesn't exist.

Are you disabled? Is that a service dog trained to assist you with your disability? What assistance is your dog trained to provide to assist you?

I hope this education is of some kind...

Not Covid safe and I don’t recommend it if that is important to you. Read below. The hotel is fine enough for a brief stop, the room seemed newly updated and the fridge, microwave, and television worked well. The bed was comfortable. Coffee machine in lobby is great. Staff were friendly. You could hear people in other rooms and outside so definitely use those earplugs they provide. The biggest concern however and one that will absolutely 100% not bring us back here again, is the lack of mask wearing by staff, incorrect mask wearing, and what appeared to be a flippant response about feedback regarding masks. Per signs on the door and local rules, masks are required in the lobby. When I checked in there were two unmasked workers/contractors in the small lobby working with the manager to fix something. No concern for guests and check in was slow so had to hang In there with these folks. Manager’s mask hanging half off his face with nose exposed both days I saw him. Empty hand sanitizer station. In the morning, staff cleaning rooms were without masks too. Manager said it’s because they get sweaty but seemed to be unconcerned with this feedback. Maskless cleaning people’s health is put at risk too with this behavior. Disappointing, won’t be back here nor a Best Western as it was so lax. Didn’t feel safe and I would not trust any of their protocols based on...