Aussies stung by All Leisure Group’s sudden collapse

A 3D render of pound symbol sinking or wallowing

As the first travel group casualty of 2017, the aftermath of All Leisure Group’s administration has started to come to light with one Australian couple reportedly facing a $37,000 out-of-pocket loss.

British-firm All Leisure Holidays Group, owner of cruise lines Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery, surprised the travel industry when it ceased trading on January 4, affecting 13,000 passengers worldwide, 400 of which were overseas. The company reportedly had around 7000 forward bookings at the time of going into administration.

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The company’s tour operations, however, were salvaged before the new year with Travelsphere and Just You sold to G Adventures late on Friday December 30. Meanwhile, All Leisure’s third cruise business, Hebridean Island Cruises, has been reportedly purchased for £5 million by investors led by All Leisure CEO and majority shareholder, Roger Allard.

In Australia, Discover the World is the GSA for Voyages of Discover and Swan Hellenic, and told Travel Weekly the administration announcement was as much as a surprise to them, as it was to customers.

“We are also surprised and disappointed by this unexpected news and turn of events. We sincerely regret any inconvenience to our travel agency customers or passengers and are in the process of advising and assisting those affected,” Discover the World Country Manager, Jeannie Foster, told Travel Weekly.

“We urge all customers to register on the ABTA site for a claim also check with insurance companies and credit card providers,” Foster advised.

It is understood the cruise line advised Australian customers of its financial protection policy, which states that those who did not purchase a flight along with a package holiday, protection would be provided by way of bond held by ABTA. ABTA is the association of travel agents and tour operators in Britain.

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The news comes as a retired NSW couple have seemingly lost $37,000 after booking a 43-day itinerary on Voyages of Discovery and paying it off in installments to its travel agency in cash. Per a report in the SMH, the couple’s travel insurance policy does not cover insolvencies and they have now joined a line of creditors in a fight to retrieve any of the thousands through administrators.

Any customers who paid with a credit card could potentially also seek a charge-back payment from their banks.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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