Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., February 19, 2008 Adar1 13, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:28 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 10:07 14/02/2008 Sanitation levels in Eilat hotels said to be substandard By Haaretz Service Tags: Hotels Association, Israel  A classified memorandum authored by the Tourism Ministry reveals that many hotels in the Red Sea resort city of Eilat are subject to extremely poor maintenance and sanitation, Army Radio reported on Thursday. Tourism Ministry officials have recently carried out a large-scale inspection of Eilat hotels, and found that the sanitation standards in the flagship of Israeli tourist resorts leave much to be desired. At the Red Sea hotel, for example, cockroaches were found in several locations in the building. Similarly, the Health Ministry will soon file a complaint against Magic Sunrise hotel, due to the poor sanitation standards in its main kitchen. Advertisement The document also reveals that overseas guests are often charged a much higher rate ? up to additional NIS 360 per night in some cases ? than their native Israeli counterparts. Tourism Ministry Deputy Director-General Rafi Ben-Hur told Army Radio that many hotels fail to abide by a ministry directive that requires the listing of prices at all reception desks. The list of poorly maintained hotels also includes Patio, Edomit, Princess and Shalom Plaza. Eilat Hotels Association Chairman Shabi Shabtai told Army Radio that the results "came as no surprise. There are facilities in Eilat that don't deserve to be called hotels, and are under the Health Ministry's constant surveillance. We will work hard to fix all the flaws and pay due attention to every clause in the report." Shabtai conceded that "there shouldn't be a price difference, but one should bear in mind that prices aren't similar anywhere in the country. During Passover, for example, tourists sometimes pay 50% less than Israelis." "Despite all of the above," he concluded, "the hospitality standards in Eilat are among the highest in Israel, and the public shows its confidence in us ? 51% of Israelis visit Eilat hotels annually." Dan Hotels commented that "the chain's policy is to offer flat rates. The differences are minute and stem from the type of packages purchased. In most cases, overseas tourists enjoy better rates." Magic Sunrise and Red Sea hotels declined to comment. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Artistic justice Israel Museum to exhibit art looted by Nazis and unclaimed. Let in snow For second time this winter, Jerusalem braces for snow.   1.   Prices higher for non-Israelis - that`s very bad. 12:49  |  Tourist 14/02/08   2.   Eilat Hotels are overpriced for tourists 13:25  |  Leah R 14/02/08   3.   Eilat hoels standards 20:30  |  Disgusted 16/02/08   4.   So that`s why another "casino balloon"! 13:09  |  Shir- 19/02/08   5.   So that`s why another "casino" balloon! 13:18  |  Shir-El 19/02/08

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