Med Hotels steps up hygiene checks

Saturday, 06 Dec, 2006 0

Med Hotels is to work with holiday hygiene and safety experts Check Safety First to recommend the company’s Cristal food hygiene system to the online accommodation-only supplier’s contracted hotels.

The lastminute.com subsidiary currently carries out annual audits of its 2,500 hotel suppliers.

Food hygiene standards are assessed as part of this process but the decision to recommend Cristal to its hotels will ensure independent, ad-hoc audits take place every month, according to the company.

The audits will initially targeting destinations in Morocco, Turkey and Tunisia.

Med Hotels will be able to monitor hygiene standards at its contracted hotels through Check Safety First’s eCristal online risk management audit system which provides real-time access to reports and guidance on those areas of the hotel which require further attention.

It is estimated that the UK travel industry faces annual compensation claims of around £50 million from holidaymakers, of which food related illness is one of the most common complaints.

As a result, a growing number or tour operators, travel agents and dynamic packaging firms are implementing systems to reduce the risks of their guests against becoming ill.

Med Hotels group trade director Carl Burrows said: “We’ve always been quick to respond if we uncover poor hygiene standards, and working with Check Safety First will enable us to increase our levels of pro-activity and the extent to which we and our contracted hotels can protect customers against food-related illness.”

Steve Tate, chairman of Check Safety First, said: “Although there is still a degree of confusion as to who is liable in the event that a holidaymaker tries to sue for becoming ill, the case for developing and utilising risk management systems is becoming stronger with every claim that hits the headlines.

“By encouraging the adoption of Cristal amongst its contracted hotels, Med Hotels is taking positive steps towards mitigating the risk to which it exposes customers, partners and its own bottom line.”

Report by Phil Davies

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Phil Davies

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