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Update on Monster Travel closure
ABTA has issued a warning to agents who are advertising for customers to rebook following the cessation of Monster Travel.
It reminded agents that because Monster Travel was a managed branch of The Freedom Travel Group, Freedom will be honouring all bookings.
“If members encourage customers to rebook they will have been double-booked and may look to the member for recompense,” it warned.
On Facebook and other social media websites, some agents criticised rival companies for acting like vultures by being so quick to place Google ads.
They also expressed their sadness for the staff of Monster Travel, particularly for those who had joined the company after losing their jobs at Freedom Direct.
Online and call centre travel agency Monster Travel ceased trading yesterday after just over two years in business.
The company, part of the Freedom Travel Group, employed 94 people.
Only last April the company had a major recruitment drive for an extra 40 staff.
Some of those who got the jobs were ex-employees of Freedom Direct Holidays, which had ceased a week earlier.
Ironically, at the time the Monster managing director David Hawke, said it was a “sad indictment of the times” that the firm had received 500 applications in just three days for the new jobs.
Hawke, formerly head of call centre business for TUI, founded Monster Travel with his partner Julie Gilmore.
Jane Atkins, managing director of The Freedom Travel Group, said: “The business was a Freedom Travel Group member that sold package holidays and also from time to time repackaged holidays under our ATOL bond.
“Under our managed agent agreement with ABTA we will take on all forward bookings, ensuring that customers travel as planned and that trade suppliers are paid.
“We are very disappointed and saddened that Monster Travel is no longer in a position to trade.”
* Have you been impacted by the closure of Monster Travel? Do you sympathise with those who have lost their jobs? Do you think there are more failures to come? Please share your views by clicking on ADD A COMMENT below.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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