Shocking: Brits Forced to Pay Thousands for Holidays as Major Tour Operator Goes Under
Brit holidaymakers are being told to pay thousands – or get kicked out hotels they’ve already paid for
BRITS are being forced to pay for their holidays again and are even being locked out of hotel rooms due to a huge tour operator going under. Earlier this week, tour operator FTI – one of the biggest in Europe – went bust, despite a recent investment of €125 million.
Majority of Customers Affected are loveholidays
The majority of customers being affected are loveholidays
Whilst the company is based in Germany, it has had a knock-on effect for British travellers, primarily those who have holidays booked with loveholidays. This is because of UK travel agents such as loveholidays have been using UK-based bed bank Youtravel.com – an FTI subsidiary – to book holidays.
Guests Banned Until Payment at Labranda Targa Aquapark in Morocco
Guests at resorts such as Labranda Targa Aquapark in Morocco said they were being banned from their rooms until they paid
FTI owns around 50 resorts in eight countries, including Labranda, Design Plus, and Kairaba hotels. And Youtravel.com has confirmed that all bookings up to June 14 have been cancelled, extended from June 11. It said the “unprecedented” situation was “challenging” but was “diligently working to keep all partners informed”.
Holidaymakers’ Outrage Over Paying Twice for Accommodation
Fuming holidaymakers have been forced to shell out thousands when staying at its hotels – despite having already paid
And fuming holidaymakers have been forced to shell out thousands when staying at its hotels – despite having already paid. Many have taken to social media to complain. One wrote: “Currently part of a group of 30 people in my hotel. We’re all being told we will be asked to leave unless we pay £1,000 of our own money to stay.” “They’re now blocking our key cards and not allowing us access to our room/belongings until we ‘pay our bill’.”
Reassurance from loveholidays Amidst Chaos
A loveholidays spokesperson told Sun Online Travel
A loveholidays spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “We are very sorry to hear of the insolvency of the FTI Group, the parent company of our accommodation and transfer partners Youtravel.com and Meeting Point.” “Only a small portion of our customers are affected by this news, and we’re working hard to ensure there is no disruption to their holidays.”
Implications for British Tourists and Hotel Bookings
How does the collapse of FTI affect tourists?
Across Cyprus, as many as 30,000 hotel bookings could be affected, according to Filokipros Rousounides, the general manager of the hoteliers association. It also affects around 30 resorts across the Canary Islands, local media reports, including 14 in Fuerteventura, 11 in Gran Canaria, three in Tenerife, and four in Lanzarote.
Conclusion: Ensuring ATOL Protection and Financial Refunds
Holidaymakers who booked with loveholidays will be ATOL protected
Loveholidays are ATOL-protected, which means anyone being forced to pay extra for their holidays will be refunded. Its website states: “As long as you book at least a flight and hotel package, every part of your holiday package is financially protected by the ATOL scheme.” The FTI group previously said it was working on ensuring trips that had already started would be “completed as planned”. But trips that hadn’t started since June 4 would “no longer be possible or only partially be possible”.