Sykes Holiday Cottages has become the latest holiday firm to now offer full cash refunds to customers with bookings affected by the government Covid-19 lockdown.
Those with bookings from March 23 to July 3 who haven’t wanted or been able to rearrange their booking dates, will be offered the option of a full cash refund, according to the self-catering company.
Customers due to travel to properties in Wales and Scotland will also be offered full cash refunds on the same terms for bookings starting on or before July 12 and July 14 respectively.
Sykes is aiming to pay all cash refunds within 30 days of customers submitting their request online.
Chief executive Graham Donoghue said: “The past few months have been some of the most stressful for UK holidaymakers and most challenging for the sector’s agents and operators.
“Whilst the majority of customers with bookings starting during the current lockdown period have successfully rearranged their holiday to a later date, we recognise that not all those have been able to or wanted to. We are now in a position to offer those customers the additional flexibility of a full cash refund as well as other options.”
People whose breaks were due to start in these periods are being asked to log into their Sykes account online to either rearrange their booking or request a refund.
Customers with affected bookings will be given the option of receiving the full value of their holiday in cash, or a partial cash refund with the value of the commission and fees associated with the booking provided as an ex-gratia credit with a complimentary uplift of 10% of this value.
The credit will be redeemable against any future booking commencing within two years from the date of issue.
Donoghue added: “Whilst lockdown has created turmoil for millions holidaymakers, we’re hopeful that people across the UK will soon get back to holidaying here in the UK and enjoying all the wonderful coastlines, countryside and character it has to offer.
“Self-catering holidays could be among the safest ways for holidaymakers to do just that, and could provide the boost that UK tourism so badly needs.”