The Occidental Allegro Papagayo still shut?

[thomasr]

I have read today that the place has re-opened so i thought i would inform you guys who are worrying. It may still not be the ideal place, i cannot confirm the situation of the hotel, but apparently its doors are back open to their customers.

The article as it AM Costa Rica, i'm not sure i am allowed to post links yet, so just google search it

By Helen Thompson
of the A.M. Costa Rica staff


The Hotel Allegro Papagayo has re-opened just in time for Semana Santa, despite being guilty of contaminating the sea and causing Manzanillo Beach to lose its blue flag environmental certification.

The Ministerio de Salud shut down the four-star hotel, located on the Golfo de Papagayo, in the first week of February, forcing management to send its 600 guests elsewhere.

An investigation showed that the hotel's sewage treatment facilities were shockingly inadequate to deal with the demand. It disposed of its untreated waste waters in dubious manners, including running a pipe into a nearby river.

María Luisa Ávila Agüero, the minister of Salud, said that she would take a firm hand against any hotel that was caught contaminating Costa Rica's environment and that any would face closure.
She added that she was placed under strong pressure not to go ahead with the original closure from the Spanish owners of the hotel, which is part of the Occidental Hotels and Resorts chain.

Two days after this statement, the hotel was re-opened, running at a limited capacity.

Until a new sewage treatment plant is installed, the hotel will have 120 out of its 300 rooms available for use by tourists.

“The hotel has made some repairs to their sewage system,” said Ivan Chavarría, an environmental worker for the Liberia office of the health ministry. “It is not big enough to deal with the entire capacity of the hotel, so they will have to wait until the new plant is installed to re-open the other rooms.”

Alonzo Ruiz, a hotel Allegro Papagayo staff member, said that the company expects the treatment plant to be ready within three months, and managers expect to re-open with full capacity at that time.

[mr stacey]

Hi Folks,

Well finally I have in my possesion a letter from 'First Choice Customer Services' that states
' The Occidental Papagayo is now open and the chnges to the sewerage problems have now been implemented. The hotel is not running to full occupancy at the moment but this only affects the amount of rooms occupied and not the facilities available'

Do we really belive this company that takes 6 weeks to respond to a letter ? then a recorded letter ? The customer service person who wrote to me was Ms Tracey Griffin and the contact number was 0161 7454740 so that might help others to have a point of contact.

As for the holiday I will take it, along with some sampling bottles and some very careful notes and if it does not live up to what I paid for and we are ill then it will be of to court

[debbieq]

Hi Mr Stacey

I also received a reply yesterday via e-mail from someone named Sian Halliwell, stating that the hotel had now reopened and the problem was resolved and no facilities are affected, she says that she herself spoke to the rep in resort and was assured there would be no problems for guests arriving in May, this I find hard to belive as first Choice have repeatedly told me that they do not use the hotel until May, so why they would have a rep in post there is a mystery!!

I think all of the clients who are traveling on May 2nd need to stay in touch as I foresee problems with this holiday as we are the first guest to travel here with First Choice, I have kept all the corespondents from them as like you I feel we may need to use them when we get back to follow this up.

Regards Debbie Q

[jchambers]

I have been reading reviews about the Allegro Papagayo after booking with them, unfortunately. I had no idea they had been shut down and am scheduled to arrive on May 18th! If you have finished your holiday there I'm very anxious to see how it went. I hope things are better now and in order. Please advise!

Thank you,
Jessica

[kcciorra]

Hi , only found this website last night as i was looking for up to date reviews of the occidental allegro, Costa Rica. I spent over an hour ringing First Choiceto ask for the latest news, but they claimed to know nothing of the problems. I have been advised that someone will contact me on Monday 19.5.08, we travel on 30.5.08. I have asked them to e-mail me their latest health and safety report which I presumed their First Choice health and safety rep would have completed before sending anyone to this hotel??? Hmmmmm!!! we will see. I will be keeping a written record and photographic evidence whilst I am there, and will be demanding a full refund if these problems are still apparant. I have explained that my 11 year old son is travelling with us, but this did not seem to affect their response to me. Can anyone who is travelling in the next couple of weeks, or travelling back home before 30.5.08, let me know if the situation is now ok. Many thanks!

[Miettemeg]

Has anyone come back from the Allegro Papagayo recently? We are due to go at the beginning of August and would appreciate some feedback. Thanks.