In recent months the travel industry has undergone many dramatic
changes. Perhaps the largest is the protection issues surrounding
ATOL and dynamic packaging.
Health and safety
The Package Travel Regulations state that the person
organising the holiday has a duty of care.
Agents who sell dynamic packages with no bonding may not only
fall foul of this ruling, but also European rulings that state
they are responsible for the health and safety of clients whilst
on holiday. Much depends on accommodation suppliers deciding
to provide the protection themselves: many do not.
This means many agents are in a very risky position, if nobody
is assuming responsibility it could fall to the agent (since
they are the person organising the holiday).
Holiday Direct Travel Group members are protected by Holiday
Directs travel agent / tour operator liability insurance. Holiday
Direct also advises agents of preferred accommodation suppliers
which 'act as the principle'.
Supplier failure - no bond required
A recent CAA survey suggested three out of four consumers
who package their own holidays do not realise their purchases
are unprotected, yet almost half rated financial protection
essential.
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Holiday Direct Travel Group is committed to
providing ATOL protection for all our dynamically bookings.
This means in the unlikely event that one of our suppliers
fail (when they are in receipt of customers money) the customers
money is safe. This is not the case for many operators.
If you do not have this protection, your bookings are not
fully protected. |
Your customers money is safe with us
 |
We have our own independently managed trust
account which is accepted by all major tour operators/flight
suppliers. We do not have access to customer's money; it
is managed by an independent trustee. Unlike some travel
groups this account is managed by head office for all our
agents. |
If a business or agency lacks this type of bonding the customer
will be aware that the failure of that business will mean they
loose their money. With Holiday Direct customers know that their
money is safe.
For more info see this
travel weekly article
