Cruise specialist agency Cruise Direction has ceased trading as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The agency, which also traded as Holiday Direction and was a member of Global Travel Group, appointed administrators on November 26.
Owner and managing director Paul Frost told Travel Weekly he was “absolutely devastated”.
Frost, who has worked in travel for almost 20 years, set up his agency in June 2016, a move he described at the time as his a lifelong dream.
The business went on to win multiple awards, including Best New Business at the Hertfordshire Business Awards and Clia’s Rising Star award, both of which were presented in 2017, just a year after the company was set up.
In February this year, the brand won Seabourn’s Rising Star of the Year award at the UK Cruise Awards.
A statement on the company’s website said: “Due to a multitude of effecting factors Holiday Direction Limited has unfortunately made the decision to cease trading and Stratford Hamilton and Julie Swan of PCR LLP, Unit 27, The Joiners Shop, Chatham Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ, were appointed Joint Administrators on 26 November 2020.
“For customers with current bookings who have queries in relation to cancellations, rebookings or are looking to pay a balance please contact the Atol-protected booking principal, The Global Travel Group Ltd, using the email address agency.support@globaltravelgroup.com with details of your query and they shall contact you.”