Agents have been forced to fork out to replace tickets for their customers after the parent company of Keith Prowse Attraction Tickets, Seatem Group, called in administrators.
The future of the Keith Prowse brand, which dates back to 1780, remains unclear until administrators are appointed. However, agents have been rebooking customers who have not received their tickets.
Fleetway Travel sales director Ben Braude said: “We had to shell out £500 for a family on Keith Prowse Attraction Tickets to Florida, as it was booked as part of a package.”
Agents said Keith Prowse had been pushed out of the market by aggressive competitors such as Attraction World.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, Advantage’s commercial director, said a handful of members had needed to rebook tickets.
She said: “Keith Prowse was a very good business to deal with over the years and they have been quite innovative, but it was a very competitive market and they have been one of the casualties.”
The Keith Prowse website was still up and running as Travel Weekly went to press but it was unclear if it was possible to complete a booking. A message on its answerphone was advising customers to call back later.
Up to 100 staff have lost their jobs at the ticket specialist’s call centre in Donegal.
Keith Prowse chief executive Paul Burns said the business was being suspended rather than ceased, and that it would seek to reopen in the future.