Hotel pays guests GBP1,600 after they were bitten in the night
A London hotel has paid two sisters £1,600 compensation after they were bitten by bed bugs in their room. The pay-out by the Airways Hotel in Pimlico could now open the flood gates to other claims by hotel guests suffering from bug bites.
Bed bug infestations are reportedly on the rise across the developed world and the number of patients treated in the UK alone for bug bites has risen 19% in the last year.
They are a particular problem for hotels as the bugs travel on clothing and in bags, so they can easily spread.
Melanie Carmen and Joy McDonagh were staying at the central London hotel when they were both bitten dozens of times as they slept. Both had to seek out-patient hospital treatment.
After seeking legal advice from solicitors Irwin Mitchell, the sisters reached an out-of-court settlement with the £90-a-night hotel this week.
They told BBC Radio 5 Live they would spend the £1,600 on a holiday.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
All eyes on Qatar as Qatar Airways leads a season of global events