Explanation of Accessibility in accordance with the Barrier-Free Strengthening Act (BFSG)

 

Atlantic Congress Hotel Messe Essen

This accessibility statement applies to: https://www.atlantic-congress-hotel-messe-essen.de/ and all associated subpages.

  • Created on: June 27, 2025
  • Last reviewed on: June 27, 2025

 

Introduction

 

The Atlantic Congress Hotel Messe Essen is committed to making its website accessible in accordance with national legislation implementing Directive (EU) 2016/2102 as well as the Barrier-Free Information Technology Act (BFSG). The legal basis includes the Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons Act (BGG) and the Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV 2.0).

We strive to continuously improve our website and ensure accessibility for all users.

 

 

Compliance Status

 

This website is partially compliant with the AA conformance level of the "Web Content Accessibility Guidelines – WCAG 2.1" and BITV 2.0. The contents listed below are not accessible for the following reasons.

 

 

Non-Accessible Content

 

Non-conformities with WCAG 2.1 AA

Based on automated and manual tests, the following areas have been identified as not fully meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards:

1. Perceivable

1.1 Text Alternatives

  • Issue: Some images and graphical content lack appropriate alternative texts
  • Affected areas: Gallery images, decorative elements, hotel photos
  • WCAG criterion: 1.1.1 Non-text Content (Level A)
  • Status: Partially met

1.3 Adaptable

  • Issue: Heading hierarchy is not consistently structured correctly
  • Affected areas: Subpages with multiple content sections
  • WCAG criterion: 1.3.1 Info and Relationships (Level A)
  • Status: Partially met

1.4 Distinguishable

  • Issue: Contrast ratios do not always meet the required ratio of 4.5:1
  • Affected areas: Some navigation elements and call-to-action buttons
  • WCAG criterion: 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum) (Level AA)
  • Status: Partially met

2. Operable

2.1 Keyboard Accessible

  • Issue: Not all interactive elements are fully accessible via keyboard
  • Affected areas: Image galleries, some dropdown menus
  • WCAG criterion: 2.1.1 Keyboard (Level A)
  • Status: Partially met

2.4 Navigable

  • Issue: Not all pages have meaningful page titles and skip links
  • Affected areas: Various subpages
  • WCAG criterion: 2.4.2 Page Titled (Level A)
  • Status: Partially met

3. Understandable

3.2 Predictable

  • Issue: Some form elements lack sufficient labels or descriptions
  • Affected areas: Contact forms, booking forms
  • WCAG criterion: 3.2.2 On Input (Level A)
  • Status: Partially met

3.3 Input Assistance

  • Issue: Error messages in forms are not always clear or programmatically available
  • Affected areas: Booking and contact forms
  • WCAG criterion: 3.3.1 Error Identification (Level A)
  • Status: Partially met

4. Robust

4.1 Compatible

  • Issue: Not all HTML elements are fully valid or semantically correct
  • Affected areas: Various page sections
  • WCAG criterion: 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value (Level A)
  • Status: Partially met

 

 

Screen Reader Compatibility

 

Tested screen readers:

  • NVDA (Windows)
  • VoiceOver (macOS)
  • TalkBack (Android)

Identified issues:

  • Not all page areas are correctly recognized by screen readers
  • Missing ARIA labels on complex UI elements
  • Insufficient landmark navigation

 

 

Disproportionate Burden

 

According to Article 5 of Directive (EU) 2016/2102, exceptions may apply for certain content due to disproportionate burden:

PDF documents

  • Issue: Older PDF documents (pre-2018) are not structured accessibly
  • Reason: Retrospective revision of all historical documents would require disproportionate effort
  • Alternative: Essential information is provided in accessible HTML format on the website

External services

  • Issue: Embedded booking systems and third-party social media content
  • Reason: Accessibility responsibility lies with the respective providers
  • Alternative: Alternative contact options for bookings via email or phone

 

Creation of this Statement

 

Assessment method

This statement is based on a self-assessment as well as automated and manual tests:

Automated tests:

  • Axe-Core Accessibility Engine
  • Pa11y Command Line Tool
  • WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool

Manual tests:

  • Screen reader testing with NVDA and VoiceOver
  • Keyboard navigation tests
  • Color contrast checks
  • Responsive design tests

Tested URLs:

 

 

Planned Measures to Improve Accessibility

 

1.     Complete website relaunch by December 31, 2027

2.     Full WCAG 2.1 AA compliance of the new website

3.     Regular accessibility audits and continuous improvement

 

 

Feedback and Contact Information

 

We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of our website. If you encounter barriers or need assistance, please contact us:

Email: accessibility(at)atlantic-essen.de
Phone: +49 (0)201 17370
Postal address: Atlantic Congress Hotel Messe Essen
Norbertstraße 2
45131 Essen

Response time: We will respond to your inquiry within 10 days at the latest.

 

Alternative Contact Options

 

 

Responsible Market Surveillance Authority

 

MLBF (under establishment)
c/o Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health and Equality Saxony-Anhalt
P.O. Box 39 11 55
39135 Magdeburg

Phone: 0391 567 6970
Email: MLBF@ms.sachsen-anhalt.de

 

 

Technical Information

 

Compatible technologies:

  • HTML5
  • CSS3
  • JavaScript (with graceful degradation)
  • ARIA 1.1

Supported browsers:

  • Chrome (latest version)
  • Firefox (latest version)
  • Safari (latest version)
  • Edge (latest version)

Supported screen readers:

  • NVDA (Windows)
  • JAWS (Windows)
  • VoiceOver (macOS/iOS)
  • TalkBack (Android)

This statement is updated annually and revised in case of significant changes to the website.

 

This accessibility statement was created in accordance with the requirements of the Barrier-Free Information Technology Act (BFSG) and Annex 3 to §§ 14, 28 BFSG.