Agency blames landlord for collapse

Wiltshire-based one-shop agency Sunshine Travel has blamed a lack of support from its bank and its landlord for the sudden closure of the business this week.

The agency, set up by award-winning agent Karen Matthews in 2002, was a sister company to Florida Sun Homes, run by Matthews’ parents Annette and Simon Eason.

Simon Eason was until last year a director of Sunshine Travel, based in Corsham, which was part of the Global Travel Group.

He told TravelMole today that the landlord seized posession of the Sunshine Travel premises on Monday morning, forcing the agency to close.

"The busines was in discussion for some time with the landlord over the rent, and we had agreed last Thursday with the landlord that nothing would happen before Christmas. He then took action under forfeiture of the lease, without any reference to us.

"He re-entered the building and locked us out. This meant the business lost years of trust and credibility with the public, and a travel agency can’t trade if it doesn’t have trust, especially at the moment when people are wary of travel companies."

Eason said the business had also suffered from a lack of support from its bank, which had demanded it repay a loan of more than £80,000 over two years. "It told us it didn’t like travel agencies anymore," he said. "It said this was not a sector it would like to lend in."

The business had repaid all but £5,000 and would have cleared the loan by next March, added Eason, but he said this had put pressure on its cash flow and he admitted it had small rent arrears. However, he said bookings were up 22% year on year.

Matthews, who set up the business after graduating from Bath Spa University with a BA Honours in tourism and leisure, employed one full-time and one part-time member of staff.

"She is too upset to comment at the moment but she is considering the future of the business," said her father. "She is well-known, having won many industry awards, and she has already received a couple of offers."

Sunshine Travel, called itself "Bristol’s leading package holiday specialist", but also offered tailor-made holidays.

It specialised in Florida, including making travel arrangements for clients booking villa holidays through Florida Sun Homes run by Eason and his wife. Florida Sun Homes is not affected by the collapse of Sunshine Travel, he said.

Eason stressed that all bookings would be protected by Global Travel Group, which has been in touch with customers. Global confirmed that Sunshine was an independently managed travel agency menber and that all customers were being redirected to Global’s head office.

by Bev Fearis and Linsey McNeill