Update: Villa Parade ceases trading
Abta member Villa Parade has reassured agents that most bookings will be fulfilled and customers will not be left out of pocket as a result of a legal battle with holiday rentals firm Travelopo.
The dispute over villa contracts in Majorca came to light last month after Travelopo emailed Villa Parade clients to say bookings for villas in northern Majorca were no longer valid.
It is understood Villa Parade has lost the contracts for 93 villas, for which it has subsequently offered rebookings or refunds.
It has also since been granted a High Court injunction against Travelopo, ordering the company to retract a statement that said bookings were “void”.
A Villa Parade spokesman said the email had come as a “shock” but said the issue was close to being resolved. About 10% of its villas are affected.
In a statement it said: “The majority of bookings with Villa Parade are secure and will be fulfilled.” It said the court order meant Travelopo could no longer invite its clients to pull out of bookings with Villa Parade.
Advantage commercial director John Sullivan said a “handful” of its members’ bookings were affected. “Villa Parade has been proactive and offered reassurances, which we put on our intranet,” he said.
Martin Andrew, commercial director at The Travel Network Group, said: “We are working with Villa Parade. We have a small number of members impacted and are helping them though this situation.”
Travelopo put a statement on its site at the judge’s request, urging holidaymakers to check their Villa Parade bookings were valid.
The case continues at the High Court in London. Abta is also investigating. The association terminated Travelopo’s membership in April because it failed to meet financial membership requirements.