Travel firm employee arrested following harassment claims
Police investigating an allegation of harassment have arrested an employee of travel company Mantrav International.
The man was later released on police bail.
A spokesman for Metropolitan police said: "On 31st March an allegation of harassment was received from a 30-year-old man. The decision was subsequently taken to launch an investigation and on 17th July a 72-year-old man was arrested.
"He has been bailed to return to a central London police station on September 20, pending further investigations. Enquiries are continuing."
Mantrav, which claims to be the UK’s leading gay travel company, issued a statement saying the home of one of its directors had been raided by police and company computers containing details of all past and present bookings and all marketing and advertising material seized. Police refused to comment on the allegation.
Earlier this year Mantrav claimed it was the victim of a smear campaign by a former employee and founder Malcolm Hardy claimed that "internet trolls" were damaging the company’s reputation online.
It had sought assistance from online reputation management company Kwikchex, but Kwikchex suspended its membership after the East Grinstead-based company failed to provide information it had requested and due to its behaviour towards a customer seeking a refund for a cancelled holiday.
Hardy has twice said he was planning to cease trading, but today he claimed he was fighting to keep the company going. "We have 273 forward bookings and we are trying very, very hard to prevent those bookings being lost or cancelled," he said.
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 
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
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements