Golden Sun probed

ABTA is monitoring Golden Sun Holidays following a dispute over unpaid hotel bills which could lead to the operator being thrown out of the association.

The eastern Mediterranean operator has been pulled up before ABTA’s Code of Conduct and Membership committees following complaints from hoteliers over unpaid bills.

An ABTA spokeswoman said: "We have had calls from hoteliers and members. We are investigating the problems and are taking the issue seriously.”

The Membership Committee is looking into the dispute. If it finds Golden Sun is to blame, it can recommend the ABTA board terminates the operator’s membership.

Golden Sun general manager Roger Cross said: "A few months ago ABTA quizzed us. Since then we have had no communication to say it is investigating.”

The operator’s woes continued this week with an appearance on BBC1’s consumer affairs programme Watchdog coinciding with revelations overseas reps have had to fight a summer-long battle to get paid.

Watchdog highlighted the collapse of Golden Sun’s relationship with Corfu hoteliers, with a raft of hoteliers refusing to honour bookings claiming the operator owes them money. The operator was left with no option but to put holidaymakers up in sub-standard accommodation.

Cross dismissed the programme’s charges and said holidaymakers were informed of a change of accommodation via their travel agents before departure and will receive compensation.

The operator’s 150 overseas staff were still waiting for their August wage packets as Travel Weekly went to press this week.

Cross admitted salaries had been paid late and said all reps would be paid today – more than three weeks late.

He blamed changes to its overseas management team and dismissed allegations the delays were due to cashflow problems.

"Our overseas manager emigrated to Australia and we got someone else in who didn’t work out. We now have someone in place,” he said.