Toyoko Inn Co. President Norimasa Nishida apologized to a federation of nationwide disabled people's groups Thursday for removing mandatory facilities designed for their use at its hotels.

"I have to say that these cases have occurred due to a lack of understanding as a hotel operator . . . on ordinances aimed at realizing an everyday life comfortable to everyone," Nishida claimed in a letter of apology handed to the Japanese Federation of Organizations of Disabled Persons.

Nishida, who visited the Tokyo-based federation, also apologized for saying in a press conference last week that the modifications were made "because the number of disabled people using (the hotels) was small."

The federation handed Nishida a letter of protest calling on Toyoko Inn to swiftly reverse the illegal modifications that replaced the facilities. It also asked him to apologize for remarks he made at press conferences that could be regarded as discriminatory toward disabled people.

The budget hotel chain developed and illegally renovated 82 hotels in 26 prefectures, based on a Kyodo News tally as of Thursday.

These include two affiliated hotels in Ota Ward, Tokyo, that were found to have undergone illegal renovations, including conversion of bicycle parking lots into office space.

Yokohama Mayor Hiroshi Nakada recommended potential guests avoid the chain.

"I would like people who visit Yokohama for sightseeing or business not to use such hotels," he said at a press conference.

Inspections conducted by the city have revealed that all eight Toyoko Inn hotels operating in Yokohama were illegally modified.

The company admitted last Friday that two of its hotels in Yokohama removed mandatory parking facilities for the disabled.