Holiday Illness Solicitor Expresses Concerns At TripAdvisor Report
31/01/2011
A report into some of Europe’s dirtiest hotels has concerned a leading travel lawyer, who has urged hotel operators to improve standards dramatically to ensure the safety of their guests.
Suki Chhokar, a travel law expert at Irwin Mitchell Solicitors who specialises in holiday illness claims, admitted his concern at the report by the travel website TripAdvisor, revealing the ten dirtiest hotels in Europe.
The report into Europe’s dirtiest hotels, compiled using feedback provided by guests to the website regarding various hotels around the continent, was dominated by hotels from London, the Netherlands and Turkey.
In Turkey, Club Aqua Gumbet and Altin Orfe Hotel, both on the Aegean coast, came first and second respectively in the report, with guests at the Club Aqua Gumbet describing it as "hell on earth". Comments about the Altin Orfe Hotel were no more complimentary, with one review describing it as a “health hazard hotel”.
In London, The Cromwell Crown, Corbigoe Hotel, Park Hotel and Blair Victoria & Tudor Inn were all featured whilst in Amsterdam, the Amsterdam Hotel de Lantaerne, Hotel Y Boulevard and Hotel Manofa all featured in the report’s top ten.
Mr Chhokar claims that the comments in this report raise serious questions over the steps being taken to prevent hotel illnesses and to ensure the safety of guests.
"The release of this research has raised serious concerns about each of the hotels named and it is vital that action is taken to address the alleged problems at each,” he said.
"Holidaymakers deserve the right to know that their welfare is going to be taken seriously by both the management of the accommodation and the tour operator involved in the booking process.
"We deal with so many cases in which the safety of people has been severely undermined by a lack of proper management in hotels. We particularly provide support to those who have fallen ill while staying in hotels due to a lack of necessary hygiene standards.
"The hotels named in this study need to view it as a wake-up call and take quick and thorough action to ensure that standards rise significantly over the coming months. Hoteliers have a duty to ensure the standards at the relevant hotels meet reasonable health and safety standards that are in place for a very good reason. If they cannot ensure holidaymakers safety at a particular hotel, they must stop taking on further clients.
"Time and time again we act for claimants who initially suffer illness on holiday and who go on to develop long term or even permanent health problems."
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