OPERATORS have vowed to vigorously defend themselves
against what is likely to be the largest legal case against the UK travel
industry.
A total of 610 holidaymakers had joined the action,
which alleges mass food poisoning at the all-inclusive Beach Club hotel in
Torremolinos.
However, lawyers say this figure could rise to 1,200,
making it much bigger than the 635 people who sued JMC over sickness at the
Hotel Aguamar.
Birmingham solicitors Irwin Mitchell, which is
co-ordinating the fight, said most cases relate to November 2001, although
bouts of sickness have been reported until this July.
Most of the claimants are believed to be TUI clients
who booked the three-star property through its budget Skytours brand. Cosmos,
Libra Holidays and JMC also take a small allocation of beds at the property.
Operators insist the claims – which allege poorly
heated food and low hygiene standards caused a salmonella outbreak – are
unfounded. All feature the hotel in their 2003 summer programmes.
TUI has carried a series of health tests at the hotel
that have all come back negative.
“People have joined this action who never claimed they
were ill in resort,” said one industry insider. “Lots have jumped on the
bandwagon hoping to win some money.”
Irwin Mitchell partner Stuart
Henderson predicted damages could run into millions of pounds if the case is
successful.