Fri, 13 Jan 2017 | ADMINISTRATION
Cruise operator All Leisure Holidays, parent company of Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery, has stopped trading and called in administrators.
The collapse saw around 150 staff laid-off, left 400 holidaymakers stranded and forced the cancellation of 13,000 future bookings.
The first holidaymakers have since started receiving refunds totalling £2 million under a scheme by Abta, the travel organisation.
All Leisure provided holidays on two cruise ships, the Minerva and the Voyager. Administrators Grant Thornton is now handling the firm’s affairs, as well as those of three other travel firms.
Two of All Leisure’s tour operating brands, Travelsphere and Just You, were sold to Canadian tour operator G Adventures in a pre-pack administration, saving 200 jobs. But 50 other All Leisure employees were made redundant along with 100 of its maritime staff.
“Regrettably, and due to the adverse financial position of All Leisure Holidays, the business has ceased to trade resulting in the majority of employees being made redundant and the cancellation of all future voyages,” Grant Thornton said in a statement.
The company’s other cruise brand, Hebridean Island Cruises, was sold to a consortium of trade buyers before Christmas and tour operator Discover Egypt and Hebridean’s cruise ship Hebridean Princess were sold in late 2015 and during 2016.
Grant Thornton’s Eddie Williams told the BBC: "The cruise operations have been significantly loss-making over a number of years and the ongoing cost of funding these operations by the tours operations has created significant cash issues for the entire group, which has ultimately led to the administration of all businesses."
Contact the administrators here
Find travel businesses in administration.
This is a unique opportunity to acquire valuable intellectual property assets from a well-established wholesaler with many years of experience in the discount food and non-food sector in the Midlands.
This is an opportunity to acquire a long-established specialist bakery business, supplying major UK supermarkets and boasting a fully equipped production facility with a skilled workforce.
Discover the rare chance to acquire a specialist UK supplier of marine engines and generators, noted for their leadership in the used marine engine market and hard-to-find parts.
Please choose your settings for this site below. For more information please read our Cookie Policy
These cookies are necessary for our website to function properly and provide you with access to all features.
These are analytics cookies that help us to improve the way our website works.
These are used to improve the functional performance of the website and make it easier for you to use.