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Ashley Adams Worldchoice enters voluntary liquidation
Ashley Adams Worldchoice has entered voluntary liquidation “with the heaviest of hearts”, with the owner citing the knock-on impacts of the Covid pandemic.
The agency was established in 1969 and had a shop in Driffield, East Yorkshire. It specialised in group travel and sold coach tours and cruises.
Owner Steve Riley shared a Facebook post in which he said recent government changes to wages, national insurance and pension contributions were the “final nail in the coffin”.
He wrote: “As a small independent travel agent, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have been devastating. The restrictions on travel over the four-year period of uncertainty and cancellations created losses from which it has been incredibly difficult to recover.
“Recent government changes to wages, national insurance and pension contributions have put the final nail in the coffin.”
Riley said the business implemented cost-cutting measures and underwent a restructure in a bid to recover financially from the pandemic but this was not enough to prevent it from closure.
He explained: “The impact was simply too great. Bookings dropped dramatically during those years, and even as travel began to return, the financial gap created by that long pause left us struggling to stay afloat.”
Riley, who in June wrote a comment for Travel Weekly to share his views on media coverage of overtourism protests, assured customers that “your bookings are safe”.
“We have always been proud to be Abta bonded, and this means that all bookings will now be in Abta’s control,” wrote Riley.
“Every customer will be contacted individually, but we must be honest in saying this process may take some time.”
Riley described the decision as “without question the saddest moment of my life and the hardest thing I have ever had to do”.
“For decades, this business has been my pride and joy – a place where dreams were built, holidays were planned, and friendships were made,” he said, adding: “To close the doors and bring this chapter to an end has been utterly heartbreaking.”
He went on to say the hardest aspect of the move was having to make his staff redundant.
“The most painful part is knowing that this means making local people – loyal, hardworking members of our team – redundant,” he added.
“They have given their all to make our clients’ travel experiences memorable and smooth, and to lose them in this way is something I will carry with me forever.”
Agencies located nearby including Promenade Travel in Bridlington and Hays Travel’s Driffield branch shared their sadness at the closure.
Hays Driffield shared a statement on Facebook which read: “They’ve been a trusted part of our community in Driffield for years, helping so many. Our thoughts are with the team during this difficult time.”
Abta guidance
Abta said it is treating the company as a “financial failure” and shared advice for customers.
The association said: “If you booked a holiday through Ashley Adams (Yorkshire) Ltd, the tour operator or principal travel business with whom Ashley Adams (Yorkshire) Ltd booked your holiday will be named on your paperwork (or Atol certificate if it was a flight inclusive holiday; this would be stated on your Atol certificate under, ’Who is protecting your trip’.
“To ensure your holiday can continue as planned, you will need to contact your tour operator or other principal travel business with whom you have a contract (you should ask to speak to the credit control department).
“They should confirm that your booking will continue as normal, and they will now be your point of contact directly.”
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