ONLINE wholesaler Excite Holidays has stopped taking bookings on its website, with Managing Director Nicholas Stavropoulos saying the measure is because the company is in the “final stages of commercial discussions” (TD breaking news).
In an update to Excite staff yesterday, Stavropoulos said he would be able to provide more detail within 24 hours, after earlier this week telling TD “an exciting deal is in the works”.
Although new bookings are not being accepted, Excite’s call centre is still managing queries about existing reservations, albeit with extended wait times and advice that customers should remit payment directly to suppliers and “lodge a service complaint” with Excite.
Hundreds of clients have been disrupted in recent weeks (TD 02 Jan), arriving with prepaid Excite vouchers refused by suppliers.
Interestingly, a number of TD readers have now received emails from Las Vegas-based Bonotel Exclusive Travel, offering to take over bookings “under the same economics” and collect payment directly from the agents.
“It seems to me that the travellers will be disputing the charge to Excite Holidays with their credit card companies, so the result should be no financial harm to traveller,” the email from Bonotel Chief Financial Officer, Marlo Vandemore reads.
There was speculation earlier this week (TD 08 Jan) that there was a deal in the wings with Bonotel, with whom Excite already has a close relationship.
MEANWHILE a number of other operators have stepped in to assist agents with impacted Excite Holidays bookings – see page two.
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Source: traveldaily