Don't send people to this hotel

Aug 10 2007 Exclusive, By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

A COUPLE whose dream holiday was wrecked when they fell violently ill at a trouble-hit Caribbean hotel today called on tour operators to stop sending people there.

Annette and John Willetts are still pursuing a claim for compensation a year after their silver wedding treat was ruined by a sickness bug at the Dominican Republic hotel.

The couple, from Wollaston, Stourbridge, said they were unsurprised by the latest illness outbreak at the Bahia Principe hotel in San Juan.

More than 300 people - many from the West Midlands - have approached travel lawyers at Birmingham firm Irwin Mitchell.

Clive Garner, of Irwin Mitchell, said: "This latest outbreak, combined with an outbreak in June, points to the possibility of a wholesale breakdown in health and hygiene procedures at this resort.

"Sadly this latest outbreak of illness sounds very similar to what happened at the Bahia Principe hotel 10 years ago, when over 100 guests contracted serious gastric illness."

The Bahia Principe hotel was at the centre of one of the first successful group actions taken by guests who suffered illness. Irwin Mitchell brought the compensation claim on behalf of over 100 clients, recovering over £500,000, with the worst case awarded £75,000.

Mrs Willetts, aged 47, of Richmond Grove, said she and her print worker husband John, aged 49, holidayed at the hotel from September 26 to October 10 last year.

"We were both extremely ill. We spent most of our time in the bathroom and the holiday was ruined. We can't understand why people are still being sent to this hotel because there is obviously a major hygiene problem of some sort.

"We are still pursuing a claim for thousands of pounds in compensation for what we went through and I pity the people who are ill out there now."

The couple, who have two daughters, Gemma, 22, and Vicky, 20, said wild dogs were seen playing on terrace.

Sean Tipton, spokesman for ABTA  which represents travel agents and tour operators, said: "It is clear there is a problem at this hotel at the moment.

"Tour operators are taking this very seriously and have sent an independent health and safety inspector to the hotel."