A holiday in the sun took a shady turn earlier this week when about 20 tourists at a hotel in St Paul’s Bay were told to pay up or get out despite having already paid another hotel for their stay.

British holidaymakers due to stay at the 3-star Qawra Inn were told on arrival they would be offered alternative accommod-ation because their original hotel had been shut down by the health authorities.

A number of them were placed in the 4-star Crown Hotel in Qawra, but a few days into their holiday they were given a nasty surprise when they were handed a letter demanding payment for their stay.

The letter explained that the Crown Hotel was “experiencing difficulties in obtaining payment” from the Qawra Inn. The letter informed the guests that, unless they effected payment, “your accommodation will be cancelled and your belongings removed from your room (to be collected from the hotel’s reception)”.

Crown Hotel director Ronald Azzopardi said that the letter was unpleasant but necessary in order to protect the company’s financial interests.

“The agreement with the Qawra Inn, which we reached about a month ago, was for us to receive payment within a week. We then couldn’t make contact with the Qawra Inn management.

“We finally contacted the owner’s son, who said that the money owed had nothing to do with them. Following legal advice, we decided to charge the guests. We are not a charitable institution.”

But Qawra Inn owner Robby Borg disputed this version, saying Mr Azzopardi had “jumped the gun” in demanding payment so quickly. The Crown Hotel would have been paid once the Qawra Inn received money he said was owed to it by the Malta Tourism Authority.

“The Crown Hotel’s letter was unethical and amateurish,” Mr Borg said.

Tourists caught between the two hotels were left carrying the can. Mr Borg insisted that guests who had paid for their stay at the Crown Hotel “will get refunded one way or another by the Qawra Inn or the Crown Hotel”.

But that assurance will be of scant consolation for the tourists who opted to disregard the Crown Hotel’s demand for payment and chose to lodge elsewhere.

“I paid the full whack for my stay in the Qawra Inn in early September,” said Isle of Man native Donald Gillmour, “and then, a few days into my holiday, I was asked to pay the full whack again by the Crown Hotel.”

Mr Gillmour decided to pack his bags and move into a nearby hotel. “I ’ve paid twice for my holiday accommodation. Hopefully, my insurance policy will be able to sort me out.”

Theresa Newman, from Surrey, was equally disappointed. “We got back to our hotel room in the Crown to find a letter demanding €496,” she said. “I was shocked.”

They decided to leave the hotel and, after several phone calls to the British High Commission, managed to secure a room in a “very pleasant hotel”.

“I don’t think the other guests who decided to leave the Crown Hotel were as lucky,” she admitted.

The Qawra Inn was shut down last month by health authorities due to Legionella contamination. Mr Borg has no intention of reopening it in the future.

The tourists, who had booked a stay there through www.maltabargains.com, only found out about the hotel’s closure once they arrived in Malta. In one instance, a tourist who heard of the hotel’s closure before going on holiday contacted the hotel, only to be told that there was nothing to worry about as the hotel was “only closed for a few days”.

When contacted, the MTA said that it had been made aware of the issue by tourists themselves and that it was investigating.

Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association CEO George Schembri said neither the Qawra Inn nor the Crown Hotel were members of the association.

Another hotel that agreed to take in Qawra Inn guests confirmed that it was still awaiting payment and two others supposedly receiving guests denied any involvement.

The Qawra Inn’s predecessor, the Palm Court Hotel, was also run by Mr Borg. It achieved notoriety in 2004 when a UK magistrate flew to Malta and stayed there in order to personally investigate complaints made against the hotel. He found in favour of the Palm Court, saying complaints were “unattractive and unworthy” of the claimants.

Mr Gillmour has been to Malta over 10 times. “My issue is with Mr Borg and the Crown Hotel’s issue is with Mr Borg,” he said, “I don’t see why the two of us should be arguing.”

Sipping coffee, he was circumspect about the matter. “I ’ve always found the Maltese to be very honest and open people, except on this occasion.”

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