UK travel firm in business for 15 years goes bust with all holidays cancelled

A UK travel company that provided a selection of ski and spa getaways has stopped trading, with holidaymakers who have reserved a package break being advised to make a claim for their money back.

Travel Bespoke Ltd was established in 2011, and operated under three brands: Chalet Bespoke, Ski Bespoke, and Spa Bespoke. The company's websites are now inaccessible. The business previously had its headquarters in an office in Midhurst, West Sussex.

Ski Bespoke's X page, which remains live at present, outlined the company's services as providing tailored ski holidays to destinations in Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, Canada and USA, reports the Mirror.

Financial protection body ATOL (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing), announced in a statement that the business had stopped operating as an ATOL holder as of May 29. It stated: "We have contacted the affected ATOL protected consumers directly. If you have not been contacted and believe you are entitled to a claim against an ATOL protected booking, please supply your booking details with supporting documentation by email to [email protected]."

The deadline for submitting a claim to ATOL is May 28, 2027. Its statement continued to clarify: "Bookings sold as accommodation only, non-flight Packages and Cruise Only bookings which do not include a flight element are not covered by the ATOL scheme. Please contact your travel insurance or card issuer for further assistance."

ATOL also provides a claims information page where customers can verify whether their booked holiday falls under ATOL protection, or whether they will need to seek alternative methods to recover their money.

Travel Bespoke is not the only travel company to have collapsed in recent weeks. Long-established firm Groupia Ltd recently entered administration after 24 years of trading.

The company, which operated brands including Groupia Golf, GoHen, StagWeb, Groupia School Trips, and Company Away Day, served over 750,000 holidaymakers before folding.

Under UK law, any travel company selling holidays or flights must hold an Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) number, so always ensure your holiday is booked with a reputable operator.

This means that should your holiday firm collapse before you travel, you can apply to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for a full refund. If you are already abroad when a firm folds, the CAA is obligated to arrange your return home.

Nevertheless, you should also ensure you hold travel insurance that covers a travel firm entering administration, as this can additionally cover expenses arising from a cancelled holiday or being stranded overseas. Credit card protection can equally prove beneficial in such circumstances.

If you paid for your holiday or flights by credit card directly with the holiday company or airline, and spent over £100, you may be entitled to reclaim the money through your credit card provider. Mastercard and Visa debit cards additionally offer a chargeback scheme, which is accessible through the majority of UK high street banks. You are able to request that your card provider reverses the transaction, thereby returning your money.

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