Yahoo News Loveholidays issues advice to customers as FTI Group insolvency disrupts travel plans
Holidaymakers are being urged to double-check their bookings as one of Europe's leading travel giants, FTI Group, has gone bust, resulting in a wave of summer holiday cancellations.
The Munich-based firm, ranked as the third-largest tour operator in Europe, declared insolvency on Monday June 3, a move confirmed by the company. Following this announcement, UK-based travel agency loveholidays released an update on Wednesday, indicating that a "small number" of its customers might find their accommodation and transfer plans impacted.
From June 4 onwards, FTI Group has stated it will be forced to cancel or only partially fulfil all booked trips, leaving potentially thousands of travellers in the lurch at the peak of the summer season. The company has clarified that bookings made with external providers like TUI and Alltours are not affected by the insolvency.
However, services under the FTI umbrella booked via retail travel agencies or online platforms will face cancellations, reports Chronicle Live. Included in the fallout are Youtravel and Meeting Point, both affiliates of loveholidays.
In response to the unfolding situation, loveholidays took to social media to outline the implications of FTI Group's insolvency for their clientele and to explain the steps to be taken for those whose travel arrangements have been thrown into disarray.
The full message from loveholidays stated: "Earlier this week the FTI Group, the parent company of our partners Youtravel and Meeting Point, filed for insolvency. This means that a small portion of our customers' accommodation and transfer arrangements may be affected. However, we're working hard to honour these bookings with other partners to minimise disruption to any holidays.
"We are aware that a small number of hotels are asking our customers to pay for their rooms again. Loveholidays is absolutely committed to covering these costs and we are working with affected customers, and the hotels involved, to make sure this happens.
"If you are on holiday and need our support, please contact our On Holiday Support Team by calling the number in your booking documents. If you're travelling with us soon and are wondering if your holiday is affected, please don't worry. There is nothing you need to do - our team is working hard to honour any impacted bookings with another partner."
In response to one person's query about how they can determine whether their booking has been affected or not, loveholidays advised: "Please head over to manage my booking to view your Booking Confirmation documents that were sent via email initially. On the hotel and transfer voucher it will list which suppliers you are currently booked with to determine if your booking will be impacted."
The FTI Group, which has a workforce of about 11,000 worldwide and offers tours to over 40 international destinations through its 10,000 agency partners in Germany, is insolvent. The German Economy Ministry referred to this insolvency as "tragic" but added that they are unable to provide further assistance.
