Terminal Park in Eilat/Photo: Eilat Spokesperson
At the beginning of the month we published here that the municipality of Eilat launched a campaign aimed at attracting Israelis to stay in the city's hotels in the relatively weak month of February under the branding "Eilat love back", which offers accommodation in the city's hotels for NIS 500 per night (minimum two nights) and receipt of NIS 300 in vouchers to spend on attractions and restaurants in the city
However, now the Israeli Consumer Council has issued a notice that apparently there is a fear of public deception, since a sample test conducted by the council found that although the hotels are advertised on the dedicated portal established by the Eilat municipality, it is not possible to book a night at the hotel at a price of up to NIS 500 per night for a couple.
"The council forwarded the findings of its inspection to the Eilat municipality and is awaiting its response," the council wrote.
Also, the council clarified to the Eilat municipality that the inspection findings at the Herbert Samuel Reef Eilat Hotel and also at the Americana Hotel, which showed prices higher than NIS 500 per night, raise concerns about misleading consumers in a material detail in the transaction contrary to the provisions of Sections 2 and 7 of the Consumer Protection Law.
It should be noted that
in the inspection we conducted, the majority of the hotels actually follow the procedures of the sale and present prices of up to 500 shekels per night in the Amchash, including breakfast.
However, the council claims that "in our sample inspection no match was found with the price presented, and from our point of view even One hotel that will not comply with the rules of the operation so that this will be considered misleading the public."
Is it not possible to book a night at a hotel in Eilat up to NIS 500 per night for a couple?
Not sure/Yair Waller
The advertisement must be removed immediately or the conditions of the promotion must be changed
The Council demanded that the Eilat Municipality conduct an inquiry with all the hotels participating in the promotion, including the hotels inspected by the Council, and verify with them that it is possible for the public to book rooms with them under the conditions of the promotion presented in the advertisement, i.e. at a price not exceeding NIS 500 per night for a couple.
According to the council, it demanded from the Eilat municipality that if it is not possible to fulfill what was said in the advertising campaign - a room per night at a cost of up to 500 shekels, the advertisement must be removed immediately or the conditions of the displayed promotion must be changed so that they reflect the content of the concrete promotion.
"It is indeed a moral call for the rehabilitation of the city of Eilat, but we cannot accept the fact that it is an advertisement that may mislead the consumer public contrary to the provisions of the law," the Consumer Council said.
"We call on the municipality to correct the advertisement, or to enforce it and allow consumers to book a night at a cost of up to NIS 500 as advertised."
The Eilat Tourism Corporation has not yet given a response.
More on the same topic:
Eilat
Hotels
misleading consumers