British Tourists Launch Action After Egyptian Hotel Illness
08/11/2010
A group of more than 80 British holidaymakers have launched court proceedings after their holidays were ruined by an illness outbreak at an Egyptian hotel.
The group has approached travel lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to support their claim against tour operator First Choice following stays at the Holiday Village Red Sea Hotel, Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, in 2008.
First Choice, part of TUI UK, has refused to accept responsibility for the suffering experienced by guests, who reported suffering various illnesses and symptoms relating to unhygienic conditions at the resort.
Guests reported that undercooked food was being served and left out for long periods of time without being kept at the right temperature as well as birds in the dining area, flies on the food and food that seemed to have been reheated and recycled from leftovers from previous meals.
The complaints have led travel lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to accuse the company of ‘disregarding’ the health and safety of its customers.
"First Choice has continued to deny liability for the suffering caused at this hotel,” said Juliette Eden, an expert in travel law at Irwin Mitchell. “We are determined to continue to fight for our clients to ensure that justice is done.
"They need to face up to their responsibilities and pay our clients fair compensation for the ruined holidays and illnesses they experienced. The huge catalogue of complaints our clients experienced during their stays at the hotel shows just how appalling the conditions were.”
She added: "What's particularly alarming is that we have received calls from nearly 90 people who have stayed at this hotel within the last few months and, like so many people before them, have experienced similar problems. It appears that First Choice has not learnt any lessons but instead seems intent on simply disregarding the health and safety of the customers they are continuing to send there.
"Sadly, in our experience, many of those who have contracted illnesses while staying at the hotel may develop long-term and possibly permanent symptoms. And so First Choice needs to do more to tackle the health and hygiene problems at this hotel. The company should either sort it out, once and for all, or stop sending people there."
Court proceedings have started today for holidaymakers who stayed at the Holiday Village Red Sea between May and September 2008.
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