Rival operators have rebooked thousands of holidays following the sudden collapse of the Preston Travel Group.
Scores of agents, operators and former staff have paid tribute to the Barnet-based company, which ceased trading last Thursday (February 13) after last-ditch talks to sell parts of the business failed. It employed 30 staff.
The group specialised in the Channel Islands, Isle of Wight, Isle of Man, Egypt, Israel and Cyprus, and traded under brands including Preston Holidays, Amathus Holidays, Longwood Holidays and Peltours.
There were around 4,500 consumers with forward bookings and 144 on holiday when it failed. The operator was licensed to carry 23,543 passengers for the 12 months to March 2014.
Fleetway Travel has been appointed by the Civil Aviation Authority to handle holidays departing in February. Atol bookings from March 1 have been cancelled, with refunds to be claimed through the CAA or Abta, while non-Atol bookings were cancelled as of February 17.
Premier Holidays, Airways Holidays and Cyplon Holidays have been among the operators to step in to rebook agents’ clients. All three said they had been inundated with calls from the trade.
Premier rebooked more than 1,000 holidays to Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Scilly Isles and the Isle of Wight in the four days after the company’s collapse – more sales than it took for all of February last year to the destinations.
Head of sales and marketing Debbie Goffin said: “Agents we’ve spoken to have been relieved they could rebook with us; they hadn’t known what to do.”
The operator is now contracting a “handful” of guest houses that Preston featured to add to its own programme.
Channel Islands specialist Airways Holidays’ managing director Robert Mackenzie said phones had been “ringing off the hook” since the failure.
The operator signed a distribution deal with Thomas Cook the day after the group’s demise, which will see it sold through agents nationally for the first time. It is also in talks with Tui Travel.
He said: “Of course this is an opportunity for us but that doesn’t take away from the fact we knew these people and are very sorry for the loss of their jobs.”
Cyplon Holidays’ sales director Tass Anastasi described the company’s collapse as “genuinely terrible news”.
He added: “We have helped a lot of agents and those who condemn operators [for taking advantage of the situation] should ask the people we have helped how happy they are.”
Former staff mourned the company’s demise in comments posted on travelweekly.co.uk.
Former managing director Kevin Duckworth wrote: “I worked with some fantastic people at Preston, Longwood and Amathus Holidays past and present. I want to publicly acknowledge my gratitude to them and wish them every success.”
Jose Cofone, recruitment operations manager for New Frontiers Travel Recruitment and a former manager of Preston Travel’s groups department, said: “I am saddened to hear the news. I have fond memories of a wonderful company. Best of luck to all finding new jobs.”
It is understood the company had been touted for sale for some time and had looked at options, including a management buyout, to continue trading.
The company has no connection with Preston Travel Centre in Preston, Lancashire.