A travel firm based in the UK has had a crucial licence revoked, putting numerous customers at risk of having their summer holidays cancelled. Great Little Escapes, which operates from Sandhurst in Berkshire, previously offered a diverse range of holidays, from adventure trips to relaxing spa breaks, beach getaways to city escapes, and adults-only retreats to family-friendly resorts. However, the company has now lost its ATOL licence.
It is essential to note that Great Little Escapes is a separate entity from Great Little Breaks, with no connection between the two. The Civil Aviation Authority issued a statement, saying: “The company based in Sandhurst, Berkshire traded under the names Your Holidays, Great Little Escapes, Tunisia First and websites www.themaldives.co.uk, www.yourholidays.co.uk, www.thecaribbean.com and www.greatlittleescapes.co.uk.”
The CAA added: “We are currently collating information from the company and will update this page as soon as possible. While waiting for further information, please do not submit a claim as these will be rejected.”, reports the Mirror.
If you have been affected by this news, please email webtravel@reachplc. com.
In a warning to travel agents, the CAA stated: “If you are a travel agent of Great Little Escapes LLP and you are currently holding consumer payments which you have not yet paid to Great Little Escapes LLP, you must not use these funds to refund consumers until you have received instructions from the Air Travel Trust.”
The CAA will contact travel agents directly with specific instructions for handling these bookings.
This news comes just a month after another British travel firm went out of business. Jetline Travel, a London-based firm established in 2000 and the parent company of Jetline Cruise, ceased trading as an ATOL holder in March. The company has now entered administration, as reported by TTG. Alan Clark from financial recovery specialist Carter Clark, and Neil Bennett from restructuring and insolvency firm Leonard Curtis, were appointed on 28 March.
Administration is a process that occurs when a business can no longer meet its debt obligations, leading to the appointment of a licensed insolvency practitioner. This professional will either restructure the business and negotiate with creditors, or sell off assets, settle debts and liquidate the business.
Over its 25 years of operation, Jetline Travel took hundreds of thousands of people on holidays. During this quarter-century, the company also traded under several other names including Bargain Late Holidays, Best Priced Holidays, Cruise and More, Elegant Getaways, Our Best Holidays and Save on Sun.