The travel and tourism industries have been majorly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this year, thousands of tourists had their holidays cancelled following worldwide restrictions on international travel. This led to holidaymakers asking for refunds, leaving many travel companies and airlines struggling financially.
And now, another travel firm has been hit by the pandemic.
Tailor Made Travel (UK) went into administration on September 3, in another blow to the travel sector.
However, Tailor Made Travel was acquired by Hays Travel, the company has confirmed.
A statement from Hays Travel said: “Tailor Made Travel Ltd went into administration at 4pm on Thursday, with Deloitte appointed as administrator.
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“Hays Travel had been contacted and made an expression of interest.
“Our offer to acquire all 20 shops was agreed, as was the retention of approximately 100 employees, late Friday afternoon.”
The deal will cover Tailor Made’s 20 shops and around 100 of their employees.
A couple of weeks ago the Tailor Made Travel’s chief executive Simon Morgan said he planned to close 15 of the chain’s 20 stores.
The company was planning on closing the stores to save the business.
He planned to keep the five stores open and introduce home-working.
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Mr Morgan said after the administration and Hays’ acquisition: “It’s devastating but I take consolation in the fact that this protects the future of the 100 employees.
“We realised very quickly that the hibernation process would still leave us exposed to rents, rates, salaries and possibly redundancy costs and it just wasn’t practical.
“It was compounded by the lack of ability to sell any imminent travel and make any immediate commissions.”
ABTA, formerly known as the Association of British Travel Agents, has offered Tailor Made’s customers some advice.
ABTA’s website reads: “If you booked a package holiday through Tailor Made Travel and the holiday is provided by another tour operator, you will need to contact the tour operator named on your paperwork or ATOL Certificate (listed on your ATOL certificate under ‘Who is protecting your trip’).
“Your tour operator should be able to confirm that your booking will proceed as normal.
“Your ATOL Certificate will say ’Package Sale’ in the bottom right hand corner, where an ATOL protected package has been booked through Tailor Made Travel with another tour operator.”
Customers who have plane tickets are being advised to contact the airline directly in regard to their booking.
ABTA said in regard to Hays Travel: “We understand that Hays Travel Limited has taken over the 18 branch office locations, but not the business of Tailor Made Travel.
“Hays Travel is retaining the staff of Tailor Made Travel at those locations.
“Hays Travel are an ABTA Member and have indicated that they will assist all customers to navigate the processes required to secure your booking.
“Please contact the branch that you booked through for assistance.”