Trade steps up to help Preston customers

Visit Guernsey and Premier Holidays have been among the travel organisations offering help to customers affected by the collapse of Preston Travel this week.

Visit Guernsey said it is working with local contacts and tour operators to help facilitate bookings for any forward bookings that the group’s customers had in place.

Preston Holidays ceased trading last Thursday with 144 customers on holiday and 4, 500 forward bookings although it is unclear where the customers are.

“We are saddened to hear the news of the collapse of Preston Holidays who have sold holidays to Guernsey for many years. Our current concern is for their customers especially for those who are already on holiday in Guernsey. We are working closely with all our trade partners and contacts to help ensure they are able to enjoy the rest of their holiday and return home safely,” said Mike Hopkins, director of marketing and tourism.

Premier Holidays is just one of the tour operators that have stepped forward to offer travel arrangements for those affected.

The operator’s group managing director Susan Papworth said in a statement: “Preston has always been intrinsically linked with the Channel Islands; I have personally known many of their team over the last thirty odd years and it is sad to see the company in such circumstances. The Channel Islands is a very specialist market and one where experience and product knowledge is required. There are so few companies that possess a high degree of expertise in this market, so the loss of any one of them is not to be taken lightly.”