Center Parcs misled families, says advertising watchdogs
Center Parcs has been found guilty of misleading advertising following a TV ad which showed a family with school-age children enjoying a midweek break at a price that was only available during term-time.
The Advertising Standards Authority said the advert, shown in January, implied that families with school age children would be able to take advantage of the offer of a four-night break for four people from £249.
The advert included a voice over which stated: "What would you like your children to inherit? A house? A clock? The family silver? Or something a little more valuable?"
However, one viewer complained to the ASA that the lead-in price was not available during weekend or school holiday periods so families with school age children, such as those shown in the ad, were excluded.
Center Parcs argued that it believed it was clear from the conditions mentioned in the advert that offer only applied to midweek breaks as the only four-night breaks it sells are Monday to Thursday, a fact which would have been reiterated to customers when they visited the website or called to book.
It also said it did not believe consumers would expect to be able to take a family of four, including two school age children on holiday at the advertised price. The visual ad, it said, was only intended as a general description of the Center Parcs environment.
Center Parcs said there were no defined dates that could be referred to as school holidays because these vary across the country. Its offer was available from January to March and later dates were added from in September, early October and November and early December.
Upholding the complaint, the ASA said: "Because the ad focused exclusively on the benefits of the resort for families with young children, we considered that the omission of information about the available travel periods, which would have alerted viewers to the fact that the offer was unlikely to be available during school holidays, was likely to mislead."
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026