“Towel War”: German court hits hotels

German court awarded a tourist compensation for the inability to use sun loungers at the resort of Kos. Now hotels are changing the rules: ‘Towel war’ becomes legal risk.

“Towel War” in Mediterranean resorts unexpectedly received a legal continuation. After the court’s decision in Hannoverwho sided with the German tourist, hotels and tour operators began to revise the rules for using sun loungers. An ordinary summer scene – a towel on an empty sunbed at six in the morning – can now cost a business real money.

It’s about business 48-year-old German pilot David Eggertwho was vacationing with his family on the island Kos. According to The Guardianthe tourist paid more 7000 euros for a vacation, but almost every day I encountered the same problem: the sun loungers by the pool were “occupied” with towels in advance, although their owners were often absent.

According to Eggert, he had to get up around 06:00to try to find available places for the family. However, as he claimed, by this time everything was about 400 sun loungers were busy with towels. People could sleep in the rooms, go into town, or not use the sunbeds at all, but formally the place was already considered “reserved.” A wonderful peak of civilization: a man invented a resort to relax, and then an alarm clock for six in the morning to fight for a plastic sun lounger.

The court recognized the problem as part of a ruined vacation

District Court Hannover ruled that the situation with the sun loungers became a defect in the tourism service. The court ordered the tour operator TUI Germany pay compensation to the family in the amount 986.70 euros. Previously, the company had already returned to the tourist 350 eurosbut the court found that this was not enough.

As he writes Euronews Travelthe court’s decision could send an important message to resorts: If a hotel promises guests access to the facilities, it must not only provide sun loungers, but also provide reasonable rules for their use. Otherwise, convenience exists only in advertising photographs, and not in reality.

During the trial, the court was presented with video recordings showing rows of empty sun loungers occupied by towels. The court did not require that each guest be guaranteed a separate sun lounger, but stated that the number and availability of sun loungers must correspond to real demand, and the rules against “towel reservations” must be enforced, and not just hanging for show.

Hotels introduce new rules

After this case, the tourism industry began to pay more attention to the problem. According to British and European media reports, some resorts are already introducing or strengthening rules against the early “capture” of sunbeds. Measures include pre-assigned sun loungers upon check-in, regular checks of the pool area and transfer of abandoned items to the lost and found office if a sun lounger remains empty for a long time.

In some hotels in France, Cyprus And Greece Sun loungers and umbrellas are numbered and distributed according to the number of guests or families. This system looks less romantic, but it eliminates the morning race with towels, in which vacationers suddenly turn into lightly dressed participants in the Olympics for petty everyday selfishness.

Hoteliers are now forced to take into account not only the comfort of guests, but also legal risks. If the client can prove that the stated service was in fact unavailable due to management inaction, the tour operator or hotel may face claims for compensation.

Why is this important for Greece

For Greece this story is especially sensitive since the case involves holidays Koseand Greek resorts receive millions of European tourists every season. During the high season, the fight for sun loungers by the pools and on the beaches has long been part of resort folklore. But now this folklore has received a judicial precedent, albeit a German one.

It’s not just about comfort. For tour operators and hotels, this is a question of service quality. If a tourist buys an expensive package holiday at a hotel with swimming pools, umbrellas and sun loungers, he has the right to expect that he will be able to use them without waking up at six in the morning and running around with a towel in his hand. Otherwise, “all inclusive” begins to suspiciously resemble “all occupied”.

A German tourist warned that the decision could pave the way for more complaints in the summer. And he’s most likely right. It is enough for one vacationer to win a case for others to start looking more closely at the terms of the contract, photographs in advertising brochures and the behavior of the administration at the pool.

Editorial comment

The story with the sun loungers is funny only at first glance. In fact, it shows an old disease of tourism: hotels sell a beautiful picture, but do not always manage the reality they themselves promised. If sunbeds are only formally available, and those who got up before everyone else and threw in the towel can use them, this is no longer a service, but a resort version of self-capture.

The Hannover court decision reminds hotels of one simple thing: rules must work. If it is prohibited to occupy sun loungers with towels, the administration is obliged to control this. Otherwise, the next tourist may also decide that the vacation is ruined, and a towel on an empty sunbed is not a tradition, but a basis for compensation.

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