All at ABTA were very saddened last week to see ABTA Member Super Break go out of business and its valued staff lose their jobs. Super Break was a well-established and well-known UK travel business, offering customers everything from theme park trips in the UK to city breaks abroad, and it will be missed by the industry. Our focus since the failure has been to support customers and Members.
 
We’ve been providing advice to customers who were already on a Super Break holiday and those who have future bookings. Customers booked on a Super Break non-flight package are financially protected by ABTA and we’ve been helping them make a claim for a full refund of the costs they have paid to date. Our information for customers is available here.
 
We’ve also been advising Members who have customers with a Super Break travel service booking, whether that’s a package or single element, helping them to understand any obligations they may have and the next steps they may need to take. If you do require help you can contact Member Support on 020 3117 0597.  
 
One of the things that has emerged since the failure is some confusion among some travel businesses around what Super Break chose to protect through ABTA.

For over 10 years now, following consultation and feedback from Members, ABTA Members have had the commercial freedom to decide whether they want to protect bookings that fall outside of regulatory requirements for financial protection, e.g. non-package services. 

ABTA has reiterated over many years the vital importance of businesses putting in place and understanding agency agreements and terms and conditions with suppliers, and the failure of Super Break further emphasises this. What is and isn’t protected with ABTA should be included in all agency agreements and terms and conditions, along with any payment terms you have agreed. These documents are a business’ best source of information about the commercial arrangements you have with your suppliers.

When negotiating with suppliers, the question of financial protection should be a core part of the discussion so that you understand whether the services are protected and if they are not, you can agree suitable payment terms.

Reviewing your agreements and terms and conditions won’t stop another travel company going out of business, but it will help to protect your business if the worst happens, so we would urge all Members to check these as a priority. 

Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive