Another bedbank quits ABTA
Monday, 09 Nov, 2009
0
Youtravel.com has followed Thomas Cook-owned Hotels4u/Medhotels as the latest bedbank to quit ABTA over changes to consumer protection rules.
Youtravel.com group managing director Graham Nichols confirmed that the company had resigned from ABTA with immediate effect.
The decision had been made because of the association’s recent ruling to make bed-banks liable for all forward bookings made through an agent in the event of agency failure, whether or not the bed-bank has been paid.
Nichols said: “Our relationships with agents are varied and complex and are negotiated on an individual contractual basis. In addition agents sell in many different ways which also has a bearing on the overall commercial situation.
“This ruling does not take into consideration the intricacies of the supplier-travel agent relationship or the continuing evolution within this sector which will be further informed by the imminent Medhotels’ VAT case and the Travel Republic court case.
“In these circumstances we find it an unacceptable risk to our business model to accept this new blanket ruling, preferring to rely on the actual contractual, commercial and practical agreements that are in place.
“The ABTA protection of £100,000 per year is nothing like enough to cover the risk.
“As with any business decision, things will remain under review as the shape and scope of the accommodation-only sector continues to develop.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Clearing CSS/JS assets' cache... Please wait until this notice disappears...
Updating... Please wait...
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive