The founder of Super Break, who is preparing a bid for the failed brand, said he is “humbled” by the hundreds of agents who have come out in support of his plans.
Gordon Miller announced last week he was hoping to resurrect a “stripped-down” and fully bonded version of the short-break specialist.
Travel Weekly ran a number of online polls asking if agents would back the brand if it made a return.
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A total of 1,120 agents said they would and 186 said they would not.
Miller, who set up Super Break with a colleague in 1983, said: “I feel pretty humbled by the positive reaction. It’s been as strong as we could have expected and validates the core premise that we are only going to sell UK holidays and everything will be bonded.”
Dozens of agents commented on Facebook and wrote to Travel Weekly.
Jacqueline Gallagher-Maycock, supplier relations manager at Thomas Cook, posted: “I would always support Super Break. It wasn’t just about the brand, the team in York were Super Break through and through.”
Cathy Howard, of Your Holiday Booking, said: “Most definitely. I preferred [Super Break] when they were UK-only. If they intend to do the same again, I would definitely support this move.”
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Travel Counsellors’ Cathie O’Dea wrote: “Absolutely, 1,000 times yes and that’s speaking as somebody who has lost money.”
A handful of agents said the brand was “tainted” after collapsing with 20,000 forward bookings and leaving some agents out of pocket for hotel-only bookings, which were not bonded.
Miller said there was some “understandable bitterness”, which he would address and vowed to work only with hotels that agents could sell and earn commission on.
A spokesperson for the joint administrators said: “We are continuing to engage with interested parties to purchase the business and assets of the companies. To date, we have received significant interest.”
Miller said: “We’ve had good conversations with the administrators.” He has also been in talks with Abta, and explored other bonding models.
It is understood the deadline for bids has been extended to next week.
