Two Canadian families have come forward with allegations against the Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun resort, claiming they suffered severe food poisoning during their Christmas vacations and were subsequently pressured to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) by resort staff.

Jesslyn Schigol, her husband, and their two sons—one a teenager and the other a four-month-old—traveled from Yorkton, Saskatchewan, to the resort for the holidays. Schigol reported that her husband fell violently ill on Christmas morning, experiencing uncontrollable vomiting. When she sought medical assistance, resort staff allegedly demanded she sign an NDA, which would prevent public discussion of their experience or pursuit of any claims, before sending a doctor. 

Schigol refused to sign the document, took photos of it, and stated that medical help was withheld until she agreed, which she did not, DailyMail reports.

In a similar incident at the same resort, Allison Field from Saskatoon, her husband Andy Yackulic, and their four-year-old son also fell severely ill during their stay. 

Field recounted that her husband and son became sick, experiencing vomiting and shaking, and then relapsed days later. Concerned for her son’s health, Field decided to check out early and take him to the hospital. She alleged that resort employees repeatedly attempted to have her sign an NDA before assisting with moving her luggage or booking a taxi. Field ultimately left for the hospital without signing the document.  

Both families observed poor food-handling practices at the resort and have since connected with other guests who reported similar illnesses during the same period and felt similarly pressured by staff.  

In response to these allegations, Blue Diamond Resorts, the parent company of Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, stated: “We are currently conducting an internal investigation into the reports…”