Last summer’s spate of travel firm failures was expected to be a one-off, coming as it did after the unprecedented ash cloud crisis of 2010.
But 12 months on and we are again in the unhappy position of reporting another collapse of a much-valued trade supplier, HotelConnect.
Judging by the comments on our story, HotelConnect was a firm people liked doing business with.
But the feeling of goodwill might not last long when the implications of this latest failure come home to roost.
The fear is many agents will not have heeded the lesson of previous failures and sold supplier failure cover. This could mean either they or their customers will be left out of pocket.
A week after the government unveiled its Atol proposals to extend financial protection, there couldn’t have been a more timely reminder of the complexity of the current system.
That’s why we’re demanding a simple all-encompassing system to make sure Every Seat is Safe. Join our campaign at tinyurl.com/esscampaign.
Former TWgroup head joins Travelzoo
Last night we said our official goodbyes to our former chief executive Simon Ferguson – but he’s not going too far.
Simon is taking up a new post at Travelzoo after eight years at TWgroup. But he will remain on the editorial advisory board of Travolution, our online media travel brand and sister publication to Travel Weekly, which he founded five years ago.
Good luck and thank you, Simon.