Cycling and walking holidays specialist operator Bents Bicycle & Walking Tours has failed.
The direct-sell operator, based in Ludlow, Shropshire, was a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators, and carried just under 500 passengers a year under its small business Atol. It had been operating cycling tours for 28 years and walking tours for 22 years.
It is only the fourth operator to fail in Aito’s 38-year history. Chairman Derek Moore said: “We are sad to see Bents failing. Aito’s record over the past 38 years has been exemplary.”
There are currently 31 holidaymakers abroad with the company and 100 forward bookings. In total 63 passengers were due to depart on trips this month and 33 holidaymakers had planned tours in the next seven days.
The company, which offered self-led tours to countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Italy and Croatia, ceased trading on August 15 with immediate effect. Its website was bentstours.com.
Customers currently on holiday overseas who have a scheduled flight ticket will be able to travel home using the ticket, which remains valid for their return to the UK.
Those who have booked a future holiday with Bents and who either choose not to travel or do not have a flight ticket, may be able to claim a refund either from the Civil Aviation Authority or through their credit card provider, depending on how payment was made. Holidaymakers who did not pay by credit card should make their claim through the CAA.
Customers with a valid flight ticket for a holiday should check with their airline to see if the ticket is still valid.