Tui Group has assured customers it is “exploring avenues” to ensure all booked summer holidays will take place as planned following the collapse into insolvency of German travel group FTI Touristik.
The company said it is taking “decisive action” to support those affected by the collapse, and has staff meeting with hotel partners, stakeholders and local authorities in Spain, Turkey, Greece, Egypt and the UAE to “collectively navigate the challenges posed by this situation”.
In agreement with the Germany Travel Assurance Fund, Tui will take over the support of FTI customers who have holidays booked to the Balearic Islands, Greece, Maldives, Mexico, Cuba and Dominican Republic.
More: Agents rebook clients as FTI collapse casts doubt on Youtravel future
Chief executive Sebastian Ebel (pictured) said: “The insolvency of FTI is disheartening news and our sympathies are with the guests and employees impacted by this event.
“Our entire senior leadership team is currently exploring avenues to assist our hotel partners and those travellers who had a summer holiday planned with FTI.
“I was myself in talks with the Turkish tourism minister and hoteliers and we will support opportunities to create alternative and new travel options.”
Helen Caron, Tui’s group director of product and purchasing, said: “Our commitment to our hotel partners is unwavering and the insolvency of FTI has significantly affected many of them.
“With a substantial number of holiday bookings from Austria, Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland being cancelled recently, we are currently in talks about how we can support hoteliers in this challenging time.”
Tui Germany managing director Stefan Baumert said the company is currently working to develop “special booking conditions” in Germany and the Netherlands.
“We know how important the summer vacation is and that’s why we want to make a special offer to former FTI but also new guests,” he added.
“Even though we have already started this summer season promisingly, we will put together additional offers with the hoteliers in the next few days.”
Mirjam Chlouba, head of Tui’s Hanover-based crisis team, added: “During the last days we have started working together closely with our partners to support FTI guests in destination.
“For us, it goes without saying that we support the FTI guests. As in other crisis situations, this makes it clear that travellers can rely on broad co-operation within the German travel industry.”