TUI apologises for ‘ruined’ wedding after scaffold protest
TUI has promised a full internal review of how it handled a customer’s wedding booking after he resorted to erecting scaffolding outside one of its stores as a public protest when his big day was allegedly ruined.
The company has also apologised to Jason Cooper and offered him a full refund for the trip to the Greek island of Zante last September.
Cooper alleges that TUI had initially dismissed his complaint that when he arrived in Zante the hotel that he had booked was only able to hold 45 of the 100 guests due to attend his wedding.
He was forced to find an alternative venue, at his own expense, but he said that when he returned home, TUI took three months to reply to his complaint and earlier this week rejected his complaint.
The 37-year-old, who runs a Margate-based scaffolding company, then erected scaffolding poles outside the TUI shop in Broadstairs in Kent, from which he hung a poster saying ‘TUI ruined my wedding’.
Police were called but decided not to take action as the protest was on private land. Store staff allegedly removed the poster, but he put up a spare one.
TUI told Kentonline: "We would like to sincerely apologise to Mr and Mrs Cooper and their party for the mistakes made with their wedding booking.
"We understand this would have been a stressful experience and extremely disappointing for the customers during what should have been a very special time.
"We are carrying out a full internal review into what happened, both during the booking process and also since the customers have returned home.
"We are in contact with Mr and Mrs Cooper to apologise and we have offered a full refund of their holiday and extra costs."
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
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025