after Super Break parent Malvern Group ceased trading last raising questions about the protection of hotel-only bookings


llapse: Know ntracts – Abta


If you pick up a


brochure that says Abta all over you feel like you are doing the right thing [for customers]


customers]. We know now that accommodation-only bookings are not protected, but that wasn’t clear.” Peter Cookson, group managing


director of miniple Spear Travels, said: “Would any Abta member have booked with Super Break if they had known that the hotel bookings were not covered? No, they wouldn’t. It’s commercial suicide. Abta are culpable in this.” Graeme Bret, owner of Westoe


Travel, said: “Abta is saying Super Break chose only to protect packages, but that was never made clear by Super Break. On page five of the brochure it had the Abta logo and there is a lot of hotel-only product.” De Vial argued: “All of that


product could have been booked as a package and have protection.” He added that Abta ensured


advertising was as clear as possible, but it could not police all brochures. “One of the learnings [from


the failure] is the importance of understanding the terms that you sign up to,” said De Vial. “It’s no different to flight-only.


Tis is about commercial freedom and all of those members in the trade having the freedom to negotiate their own terms and making conscious decisions.”


travelweekly.co.uk John de Vial MEMBERS


VOTED AGAINST PROTECTION


In 2007, Abta consulted members on the future of financial protection for single elements of a holiday that sat outside a package. Members voted to choose


whether or not to protect products that did not have to be protected by law. Abta said this came at a time when agents and operators were coming under competition from online players. “Agents said they needed the


freedom to be able to acquire accommodation or car hire in the way they chose, on the terms they chose, including whether they are protected or not,” said Abta director of financial protecion John de Vial. “They said if they were


compelled to choose premium products – that is, only protected packages – they couldn’t be competitive.”


Benjamin Coren


Hotels have been accused of “profiteering” from the collapse of Super Break by hiking prices. Agents claimed Imperial London


Hotels and Hilton inflated prices at some properties that were owed money by Super Break. Graeme Bret, owner of Westoe


Travel, said one hotel, which he did not want to name, tried to charge £985 to rebook a three-night stay that had originally cost £435. “I told [the hotel] they’d lose the


booking and I’d go elsewhere, and they changed their mind,” he said. “I’d urge others to do the same.” Premier Travel had more than 100


Super Break bookings. Director Paul Waters said most had been rebooked or refunded, but in some cases the agency had been forced to cover the costs. “We’ve had a disappointing


situation where some hotels have decided they will rebook, but not for the original price. We had a regular client who stays at the County Hotel in London about 12 times a year and they’ve added £15 per night for her bookings in September and October. We covered the costs for her as we


NEWS


Super Break offered trips to London


Hotels slammed for ‘profiteering’


don’t want to see her out of pocket. “We had to do the same for a


client at the Grand Hotel Spa in York. We understand hotels saying they’ve lost out, but we’re all going to lose out. It’s a shame that when the industry needs to come together, some are profiteering. It leaves a sour taste.” One homeworker said she had to


rebook seven rooms in one London property booked with Super Break. “If I had rebooked direct I would


have lost £400, but I broke even aſter using bed banks,” she said. “Te hotels are profiting out of the situation, which is despicable.” Other hotel brands have been


praised for honouring the original rates, including Best Western. A spokesperson said: “We have


been encouraging hotels to get in touch with Super Break customers to try and minimise any further disruption.” Imperial London Hotels and


Hilton failed to provide responses


before Travel Weekly went to press. i Agents mourn Super Break, page 12


Have you been affected by


Super Break’s failure? Email: editorial@travelweekly.co.uk


8 AUGUST 2019


5


PICTURE: British Tourist Authority/ James McCormick


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