--- title: "Legionella Risk in Hospitality: An Urgent Reminder for Responsible Persons" description: A British tourist recently hospitalised in Crete after contracting Legionnaires’ disease serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing legionella risk facing the hospitality sector image: https://sms-environmental.co.uk/hubfs/couple-arriving-at-hotel-reception-2025-02-19-20-57-45-utc.jpg --- ![Legionella Risk in Hospitality: An Urgent Reminder for Responsible Persons](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/hubfs/couple-arriving-at-hotel-reception-2025-02-19-20-57-45-utc.jpg) # Legionella Risk in Hospitality: An Urgent Reminder for Responsible Persons - Home - [SMS NEWS AND EVENTS](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events) - Legionella Risk in Hospitality: An Urgent Reminder for Responsible Persons [ MEDIA TEAM ](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/author/media-team) 06/27/2025 [ Legionella](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/tag/legionella), [ legionella risk assessment](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/tag/legionella-risk-assessment), [ legionella training](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/tag/legionella-training) **Recent headlines have highlighted the growing threat of Legionella bacteria in hotels**, with a British tourist recently hospitalised in Crete after contracting Legionnaires’ disease. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the **ongoing legionella risk** facing the hospitality sector, particularly hotels, resorts, and accommodation providers. As travel continues to surge, so does the importance of robust **legionella control measures**. Responsible persons in hotels must take proactive steps to minimise [**legionella exposure risks**](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/services/water-services/water-treatment-services/-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0) to both guests and staff. ### Understanding Legionella Risk in Hotels **Legionella bacteria** thrive in warm, stagnant water systems—typically between 20°C and 45°C. In hotels, common sources of **legionella contamination** include: - Showers and taps in guest rooms - Spa pools and hot tubs - Cooling towers and air conditioning systems - Unused water outlets in unoccupied rooms or seasonal facilities According to recent figures, **EU/EEA countries reported nearly 900 travel-associated Legionella cases in 2021**, a significant increase that correlates with warmer weather and higher tourist volumes. This reinforces the need for enhanced vigilance, especially during the peak travel season.   ### Legal and Reputational Risks Failing to manage legionella risk effectively exposes hotels to: - **Health & safety violations** - **Civil liability claims** from affected guests - **Reputational damage** through negative media coverage - **Potential closure** or enforcement action from health authorities Hotels must demonstrate compliance with [**HSE Approved Code of Practice (L8)**](https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l8.htm) and ensure Water Safety Plans are current and actively managed. ### Essential Legionella Risk Control Measures for Responsible Persons To minimise legionella risk in your hotel, SMS Environmental recommends the following best practices: 1. **Conduct a Comprehensive [Legionella Risk Assessment](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/legionella-risk-assessment-landing-page)** Regularly review and update your risk assessments, particularly after refurbishment, system changes, or periods of low occupancy. 2. **Implement a Written Scheme of Control** Ensure all control measures, such as temperature checks, flushing regimes, and cleaning schedules are clearly defined and followed. 3. **Monitor and Record Water System Performance** Maintain accurate logs of temperature monitoring, biocide dosing, and inspection activities. Use remote monitoring where applicable. 4. **Test for Legionella Bacteria** Carry out routine **Legionella testing**, especially in high-risk areas such as spas and cold water storage tanks. 5. [**Staff Training and Awareness**](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/training/) Ensure all employees and contractors are aware of the signs of **legionella contamination** and are trained in the importance of preventative maintenance. ### Why choose SMS Environmental for Legionella Risk Management? At SMS Environmental, we support hospitality businesses in achieving compliance and safeguarding guests against **legionella risk**. Our services include: - Legionella risk assessments - [Water hygiene monitoring and testing](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/services/water-services/water-hygiene-preventative-maintenance/) - Training for responsible persons - [Water Safety Consultancy](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/services/water-services/water-safety-consultancy/) ## Don’t Let Legionella Jeopardise Your Business With increasing scrutiny on water safety and rising cases of travel-associated Legionnaires’ disease, it’s more important than ever to stay compliant and proactive. If you are a responsible person in a hotel or hospitality setting, now is the time to **review your legionella control strategy**. [**Contact SMS Environmental today**](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/about-us/contact-us/) to ensure your water systems are safe, compliant, and effectively managed. --- #### Tags: [ Legionella](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/tag/legionella) [ legionella risk assessment](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/tag/legionella-risk-assessment) [ legionella training](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/tag/legionella-training) #### FOLLOW US - [Follow us on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/legionella-risk-in-hospitality-an-urgent-reminder-for-responsible-persons&text=Legionella%20Risk%20in%20Hospitality:%20An%20Urgent%20Reminder%20for%20Responsible%20Persons) - [Follow us on Linkedin ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/legionella-risk-in-hospitality-an-urgent-reminder-for-responsible-persons) - [Follow us on Pinterest ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/legionella-risk-in-hospitality-an-urgent-reminder-for-responsible-persons&text=Legionella%20Risk%20in%20Hospitality:%20An%20Urgent%20Reminder%20for%20Responsible%20Personsdescription=Recent%20headlines%20have%20highlighted%20the%20growing%20threat%20of%20Legionella%20bacteria%20in%20hotels,%20with%20a%20British%20tourist%20recently%20hospitalised%20in%20Crete%20after%20contracting[...]&media=https://sms-environmental.co.uk/hubfs/couple-arriving-at-hotel-reception-2025-02-19-20-57-45-utc.jpg) --- [#### SMS Environmental becomes Level 1 Disability Confident Committed ##### Previous Post ](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/sms-environmental-becomes-a-level-1-disability-confident-committed-employer) [#### Supporting Community Wellbeing Through Nature: Our Partnership with Rose Hill Junior Youth Club ##### Next Post ](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/supporting-community-wellbeing-through-nature-our-partnership-with-rose-hill-junior-youth-club) ### Category - [Legionella (23)](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/tag/legionella) - [life at sms (20)](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/tag/life-at-sms) - [SMS Environmental (13)](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/tag/sms-environmental) - [covid-19 (12)](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/tag/covid-19) - [SMS employees (11)](https://sms-environmental.co.uk/news-events/tag/sms-employees) --- ## Related Posts It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. 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