News

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.