UK-based travel company enters administration with all bookings cancelled from September

Travel agency Groupia Ltd has collapsed into administration after 24 years of trading.

The company announced it will be cancelling trips from 1 September and taking no further bookings.

The UK-based travel agency, which organised breaks under brands including Groupia Golf, GoHen, StagWeb, Groupia School Trips and Company Away Day, closed to new customers on 16 June.

According to the company’s website, it assisted some 750,000 travellers on trips to European destinations such as Barcelona, Amsterdam, Edinburgh during its two decades of trading.

Through Groupia, customers could book multi-day trips or arrange activities such as whisky tasting, spa days and dance classes.

It has assured its customers that any booking departing on or before 31 August will still go ahead as planned.

Those who find their trip plans cancelled will be able to apply for a refund from the company.

Groupia is a member of Abtot, a financial protection organisation similar to Abta and Atol, meaning that customer payments are protected.

Customers who are seeking a refund for trips that were due to depart on or after 1 September and paid with a credit or debit card can get a refund directly from the card issuer.

A notice on Groupia’s website says that anyone who paid by another method can submit an online claim to the insurance agency Gallagher Bassett, who act for Abtot.

Refund claims may take up to six weeks to complete.

Customers who want reassurance about trips before 1 September should contact Abtot. They can also request a cancellation, although original booking terms will continue to apply.

The company did not sell flights as part of its packages, so any flights a customer has arranged separately remain their responsibility.

Groupia did not give a reason for why they entered into administration and has not made it clear if it is exploring ways to find a buyer, or if it will close down permanently.

After entering administration, Nigel Fox and Christopher Marsden of S&W Partners LLP were appointed as joint administrators.

If you have booked a trip with Groupia, visit their website to find out more about your next steps.

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