Poison under the bed

[swedishmum]

I'd really appreciate any of your experiences before I take on Hilton International.

We spent a couple of nights at the end of our holiday at an airport hotel, and while dd was looking for her trainer she brought out what was obviously a highly toxic chemical mousetrap (labelled only in Italian with Antidote, Vitamin K1 and what meant highly toxic, do not touch).

We were shocked - it was simply under the bed, open, in the room our children were in alone.

The hotel says it is normal practice to do this every six months or so. My view is that my 18 month old can't read Italian, tends to poke around under beds etc and could have died if she'd eaten it. They've offered to halve the bill, but my main gripe is a Health and Safety issue.

I'm wondering if anyone has come across this before? Am about to go into campaign mode as I am appalled.

Many thanks.

report then to Health and Safety

have never come across this but am shocked. would def complain about the health and safety aspect.

agree swedishmum - disgraceful

Get as much publicity as you can re this - that's appalling!

Was this in the UK or Italy?

Complain away...its very bad

It was in Italy but am sure EU regulations cover H and S aspects. Really, if this is normal practice parents need to know and it needs to be stopped.

Thank you for quick responses - am off to do some contacting!

Being abroad is a bit tricky, as many countries still rely on common sense rather than an endless list of regulations. I agree the trap should have not been there in the first place but I find difficult that you can do something about it as if such trap is in the market it's because it has been already aproved.

P.S. Tthey would have the long list of regulations but will be definitively shorter than UK's ones.

Hilton are an international chain though - and poison under the bed at Hilton hotel doesn't make for a comfortable headline!

You are right, they will care (locally) if you make enough noise to attract the press. The impact of that bad press would be minimal unless the practice of hiding poisonous traps under the beds is followed in ALL Hilton hotels, I have never found one in them TBH, so maybe a letter to the hotel with a copy to Hilton International's customer services may be the best bet.

Just spoke to European Health and Safety Director - seemed equally shocked. Forwarded him a copy of hotel's email (from Assistant Front Desk Manager which shows they are not taking it seriously) - he'll contact them then get back to me, otherwise Nick Knowles here I come.
To reassure you he tells me it is definitely NOT standard practice.

If they do do it regularly then you would imagine that it would be for unoccupied period (presuming they don't want to warn you when they give you the keys!)

under hotel beds are pretty sordid places imho at the best of times

Glad it's being taken seriously. Interested to hear what happens.

Just heard back from Hilton. The mouse traps have all been removed and if any are needed in the fiture they will be replaced by safe new models which are child proof and locked with no access to any poison.
Hotel are having some H and S changes of policy - ie gen manager to be kept informed even if not on site.
Person who did not call doctor for us (unrelated incident) has been disciplined.
Hilton are not charging us at all for our stay (not my aim in complaining but nice anyway).
Also letter of apology from gen manager.

All in all I'm v pleased with the outcome.

Thats great - just shows it DOES pay to complain.