Hampton by Hilton Hotels in Clearwater Beach

I called Hampton Inn & Suites Clearwater Beach on South Gulfview Boulevard on June 10 to make reservations, and spoke with Stephen, who was a manager. I made him aware that I was coming to stay and that, due to a problem with my flight, I would not have any luggage or any food for my guide dog. He was very helpful and stated that, when I checked in, he would recommend places to get the items that I needed. I arrived around 5:00 p.m. on June 10 to check in. My guide dog was in her harness as I walked up to the front desk, at which point I made the front desk employee, Nancy, aware that I was legally blind. Nancy proceeded to ask me if I had a car, and then apparently realized that because I was blind I would not have one. She then proceeded to ask me to fill out a form without telling me what it was, and I reminded her that, because I was blind, I could not see to fill it out. She stated she would fill it out for me, and she asked me for my phone number and my ”pet's” name. I told her that my dog was not a ”pet” - she was a trained service animal. Nancy repeated her question, and I replied the same way. She asked the question yet a third time, and at this point I told her that my guide dog's name was ”Ginny” and that she should note on whatever form she was filling out that Ginny was not a ”pet,” she was a service animal. After this, Nancy asked me to sign the form she had filled out on my behalf without informing me what I was signing. I asked her what it was, and she stated that it was a ”pet agreement.” I reiterated for the third or fourth time that Ginny was a service animal and not a pet. Nancy replied that I needed to sign the form anyway. I asked her what it said. She stated that it said I would be charged a ”pet fee.” At this point I asked to speak to Stephen, the manager, and was told that he would not be back the rest of the weekend. I informed Nancy that it was illegal to charge me a pet fee for my service dog, and that I was not signing the form. After ignoring me with other tasks for a few minutes as I stood there, she finally gave me my room key with no further discourse on the subject. She also gave me a ”pet” sign to put on my door, which I left on the front desk because again, my dog is a service animal, and not a pet. At this point, I felt like I was staying in a hostile environment. Meekly - and almost in tears - I told Nancy that I needed someone to help me to my room. She grudgingly got someone to assist me, and I made it to my room before I cried. Eventually, I went back down to the front desk and Nancy at least showed me where the restaurant was. The restaurant staff were very kind, and could not believe that Nancy had treated me so inappropriately. Fast forward to the next morning. I went down to the front desk and asked to speak with the current manager or assistant manager on duty, at which point Nick - an assistant manager - came to speak with me. I told him what had happened, and he