In the classic – worse case scenario for a hotel or Tourist Board anywhere in the world, reports from the UK say that delegates at the Association of British Travel Agents and the industry’s biggest annual get together got a taste of what holidaymakers often go through, by getting food poisoning in a Spanish hotel.
Agents, Managers and other officials on the Association of British Travel Agents conference in Marbella suffered vomiting and diarrhoea after a farewell dinner thrown by Spain’s Tourist Board.
The victims, most of whom were bedbound for 24 hours, included senior figures from holiday company Cosmos, the Air Miles organisation and tour firm Complete Cruise Solution.
It was later discovered that many had eaten prawns or pork in a buffet at the party.
Air Miles Commercial Director John Drogan said, “I thought I’d eaten a dodgy kebab in Puerto Banus. I felt dreadful but it was only when I got back to the UK that I discovered others had been affected.”
“The pork looked less well cooked than I would have like it to have been.” “There should have been better screening of what they put on offer.”
ABTA said it was not responsible for the catering at its annual conventions, a spokeswoman adding, “The tourist board pays for it and chooses caterers and it is difficult for us to tell them what they should be serving or to bring in a food hygiene officer.”
Last Wednesday’s Marbella event is the third ABTA evetn in recent years to be hit by outbreaks of sickness, with delegates at last year’s conference in Morocco hit by food poisoning, while many suffered dysentery in Egypt in 2003.
Media at the event said, “The ABTA convention is establishing a reputation for tummy upsets”, adding “With next year’s event lined up for Tenerife, can we suggest steering clear of the seafood?”
Report by The Mole
