Major gay travel company assures customers it is stable
Mantrav International has issued a statement in the wake of the collapse of two of its rivals, reassuring customers the company is safe.
The travel group, which describes itself as Europe’s leading low cost gay travel specialist, also said that traditional gay holiday destinations are suffering, with Gran Canaria facing the closure of some gay-only resorts.
The collapse today of Respect Holidays, one of the UK’s best-known gay brands, follows the decision by Throb Holidays to cease trading following the collapse of XL Airways.
Mantrav are based in the UK, USA, the Netherlands & Australia.
Andrew Jones, sales and marketing director, said:
“I want to assure all customers that Mantrav International is safe.
“We have a solid financial backbone, an expert team running our company both in London and worldwide and we are of course fully bonded, so all bookings made with us are secure.”
Mr Jones said he was “deeply shocked” by the collapse of Throb and Respect.
Respect’s parent company Lidana Ltd, which also traded as Wildwind Holidays and Sensations Holidays, was a small, specialist direct sell travel company operating inclusive holidays to Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Ibiza, Sitges and Mykonos.
The CAA, under its ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licensing) scheme, is making arrangements for their holidaymakers currently abroad.
A spokesman for the CAA told PinkNews.co.uk:
“We think that there are about 40 people with advance bookings who will get a full refund.
“The number already abroad is not very large, but we will bring them back when their holiday is over.
“Those already on holiday do not need to rush to the airport or anything like that. We will contact them and they will come back at around the time they were supposed to.”
The CAA said anyone due to travel with Lidana Ltd should submit a claim to them.
Claim forms are available on the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk.
All Respect holidays have been cancelled so customers should not go to airports.
