Travel firms Super Break and LateRooms.com collapse

The parent company of travel brands Super Break and LateRooms.com has collapsed, affecting tens of thousands of travellers.

Malvern Group announced that it has ceased trading and warned that Super Break customers currently on holiday may be asked to pay again for their hotel, while future bookings are cancelled.

Some consumers will be financially protected by travel trade association Abta or the Civil Aviation Authority’s Atol scheme, depending on what was included in their booking.

Those who bought gift vouchers or tickets to events or attractions have been told to seek a refund from their debit or credit card provider if that was how they paid.

But Danielle Atkins, who bought £200 of Super Break vouchers as a Christmas present for her grandparents, said her bank has told her she is unlikely to get the money back as she made the purchase more than 180 days ago.

The 32-year-old, from Carlisle, told PA she was “really annoyed and upset” that the vouchers were no longer valid.

“I am a single parent working two jobs and I feel like the money has been stolen,” she said.

“I thought I was booking with a reputable company. I didn’t think for one second the money would be lost. I’m embarrassed that I’ve had to contact my grandma and tell her the bad news.”

KPMG, which has been appointed administrator to Super Break and LateRooms.com, said the firms had recently come under “significant cash flow pressure” after one of Malvern Group’s principal shareholders defaulted on debt repayments and could not support the business.

Joint administrator Tracey Pye said the group’s directors had failed in their attempt to obtain further investment, prompting them to “take the difficult decision” to enter administration.

She added: “Coming in the midst of the summer holidays, we understand this news will be of grave concern to 23,000 LateRooms.com and 19,000 Super Break customers who have future bookings with the group.”

York-based Super Break was established in 1983 and specialised in short city breaks in the UK and overseas, employing around 250 people.

Abta said the “vast majority of holidaymakers’ arrangements” will be covered through one of a number of different types of financial protection.

Around 400 people are currently on holiday but “they should be able to continue” with their trip as normal, Abta added.

Malvern Group expects reservations with LateRooms.com to be secure as the website acted as an agent on behalf of accommodation providers and did not take any payments.