07 May
2019

ABTA helps tour operator Short Breaks Ltd’s customers continue with their holidays after the company goes out of business

ABTA Member Short Breaks Ltd of 3 High Street, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 1AZ ceased trading late last month, on 29 April. The company traded under ABTA numbers L3461 and W5344. 

Holidays booked with Short Breaks are fully protected by ABTA, which has taken the decision to guarantee payment to hotels so that customers’ holidays can go ahead as planned. 

Normally when a tour operator fails, all forward bookings are cancelled. In this instance, forward arrangements such as train tickets and attraction passes have been paid for in advance by Short Breaks. As a result, ABTA has taken the decision to cover the costs of hotels, in order to minimise disruption and inconvenience for customers, meaning people can continue with their holiday as planned.

There are around 800 passengers due to go on holiday with the tour operator over the next three months. The company specialised in trips to the continent on the Eurostar, with Disneyland Paris holidays a popular option. 

John de Vial, ABTA’s Director of Financial Protection said: 

“It can often be a difficult experience if your travel company goes out of business, as while you can get the money back for what you have paid so far, forward bookings are often cancelled – disrupting people’s travel plans.  

“I am pleased to let the customers of ABTA Member Short Breaks Ltd know that their holidays will not be affected by the company going out of business, and will go ahead as normal as we have agreed to pay unpaid accommodation. 

“Short Breaks’ customers were fully financially protected by ABTA and we have taken this decision to minimise inconvenience to customers who will have the reassurance of knowing that they will be able to stay in their originally booked accommodation and not have to pay again and then seek a refund.”