Holiday Village Turkey
Leading travel law experts at Irwin Mitchell have called for First Choice to “take action or stop sending holidaymakers” to the Holiday Village Turkey, previously known as the Pegasus Palace, in Sarigerme.
For the fifth year running the hotel is at the centre of an illness outbreak. Since 2005 Irwin Mitchell has represented 565 tourists in claims for compensation against First Choice.
Irwin Mitchell are now calling on First Choice to sort out the problems “once and for all” as thousands of British tourists prepare to holiday at the hotel in the next few months.
“Lessons clearly have not been learnt,” said Clive Garner, head of the firm’s Travel Law Team.
“We already know that many of those who contracted illnesses while staying at this hotel are likely to develop long-term and possibly permanent symptoms. More worryingly there are increasing numbers of holidaymakers who have experienced similar problems this year. We have already received enquiries from dozens of people, and they have told us of high levels of illness throughout the hotel, including salmonella infection.
“What we’re saying to First Choice is quite simple. More needs to be done to tackle the health and hygiene problems at this hotel. Either sort it out, once and for all, or stop sending people there.”
Chris Cheetham, from Oldham, stayed at the hotel in May this year and he is now taking legal action after his daughter was hospitalised during their stay.
Eleanor Cheetham, 16, became so seriously ill that she was admitted to hospital in the resort then transferred to a private clinic. She and her mother had to return to the UK two days later than intended. Dad Chris said it was a distressing experience for Eleanor and the whole family.
“We were unaware of the hotel’s history – we only found that out when we got back to the UK – and, in actual fact, at first the hotel seemed to be fine,” he said.
“But then Eleanor became ill and we realised something was not right. The hotel staff were unhelpful throughout, although I must say the First Choice representatives were a lot better with us at the hospital.
“Eleanor was really poorly, so much so that she and her mum missed the return flight home and had to stay on for two days until she felt well enough to travel.”
Once the family returned home, younger daughter Alicia also started to complain about sickness and diarrhoea. Two months after their return, neither daughter has fully recovered.
Chris believes that the hotel was responsible. “We are really shocked that First Choice is continuing to send people to the resort in spite of all these problems. We didn’t know anything about the previous incidents until we checked up on the Internet and discovered the extent of the issue.”
Clive Garner agreed: “It is up to First Choice to take action to ensure that the hotel is safe to send guests to. If they can’t do this, they should stop sending their customers there. It is inexcusable that, after four years of problems and hundreds of people affected – many seriously – guests are still being sent there this year and are still becoming ill.
“The recent history of events at this hotel shows a worrying disregard for the health and safety of holiday-makers. Unless something is done, there has to be a real chance of another summer of tourists suffering serious illness and having their holidays ruined. The question must now be asked whether the repeated failure of this hotel to ensure the safety of its guests is because it can’t or won’t improve its standards. Either way, urgent action is clearly needed.”