The Cavalieri Hotel received a clean bill of health from the Tourism Authority the day after a BBC crew filmed scenes purportedly showing low hygiene standards.
The authority’s approval last September followed an investigation into the St Julian’s establishment by the BBC's Holiday Hit Squad. Aired on BBC One last Thursday, the show lambasted the hotel’s hygiene and safety standards in a series of investigative clips.
Among its alleged instances of poor standards were bacteria-filled filtration systems and a potentially toxic level of pool chlorine.
But a Malta Tourism Authority spokesman said inspections carried out the day after the crew left had found everything was in order.
Contacted by Times of Malta, the hotel confirmed it had been inspected by local authorities.
General manager Mark Camilleri raised concerns over the way the programme was filmed, saying he had been led to believe it would focus on the hotel’s ongoing refurbishment as well as the local industry. He also said the investigative filming sessions were mainly shot in the absence of management.
“I signed forms to allow a show to be filmed at the hotel but we were told that they were shooting a very different programme,” Mr Camilleri said, adding that he had serious reservations over many of the show’s claims.
In one of the undercover scenes, the show’s Holiday Hell team tested the indoor pool’s chlorine level.
The tests allegedly revealed an acidity level 10 times the recommended amount. This, the BBC team argued, made the facility harmful and generally unsafe for swimming.
Other tests showed refrigerators being run above the recommended temperature and an outdoor kitchen littered with cooking debris and pests.
Asked about the revelations, Mr Camilleri said the hotel ran its own tests on the pool and was satisfied it was safe.
A test that has just been carried out by this newspaper indicated the pool was well within the acceptable range.
On the state of the outdoor kitchen, Mr Camilleri said the hotel had recently changed its pest control provider when the inspections were held, attributing dead insects to recent treatments. The kitchen beside the outdoor pool is being refurbished and should be ready for the summer season.
Mr Camilleri said he had held talks with the MTA over any action that could be taken.
“The local authorities looked into the hotel and found nothing was out of order. I think that is telling. At this point we won’t be taking any other action,” he said.