Bowen Travel Group in administration.

[MCW]

Travel Weekly have posted an article announcing the administration of Bowen Travel group.

Bowen have three Coach Holiday companies under their wing, Bowen's Appleby's and York's. Today the company went into administration at 11.30

The following quote is from the article:

Travel agency chain and coach tour operator Bowen Travel Group has gone into administration, Travel Weekly understands.

The Hays Independence Group member has 38 travel agencies across the West Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. It also operates three coach holiday brands - Bowen's, Appleby's and York's - under umbrella brand BGT Travel.

Travel Weekly understands staff were informed of developments this morning at 11.30 at the Northampton head office and all the shop managers were asked to bring their keys which were taken off them and told the firm was going into administration.

Insolvency specialist Deloitte was understood to have applied to the courts for an administration order half an hour ago.

Travel Weekly has been unable to contact anyone from Bowen Travel Group but its website has been suspended and and the firm's customer service telephone line had its out of hours message on today.

BGT joined Hays in September last year after its franchise agreement with First Choice expired.

Hays Travel managing director John Hays told Travel Weekly he had taken a call from BGT chief executive Ronald Graham on Tuesday afternoon making him aware that Deloitte had been called in to try to save the business.

But having spoken to him again today Hays said: "We are starting to print letters to send to clients to reasure them that their money is safe and to supplier to say we will administer their bookings for them.

"We will offer the staff the opportunity to become homeworkers with Hays, as we have in other situations.

"Homeworking's not for everyone, but those that have become homeworkers in these situations in the past, have found that they have done very well indeed."

Any Bowen staff who are interested can call Hays on 0800 412 5990.

Hays added: "We knew some time ago that Bowen's were struggling and they were trying to dispose of the business and we, alongside other people, were trying to save it but they couldn't get the sale away."

A Deloitte spokeswoman was unable to confirm its involvement at this stage.

Additional reactions and comments can be found on the webpage where the article is hosted, which is at the following link. compatability with mobile devices and for users at work is unknown:

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2012/10/25/42043/bowen+travel+group+in+administration.html

It is nice to see that Hays are giving some the option of working from home, even if it is a temporary solution to some people who may not be able to uphold that arrangement for very long. Again, it is said to see another coach/transport industry group go under, as we have had at least 4 in the last month go into administration.

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

I'm shocked at how many companies are going under also. However, I breathe a sigh of relief that it's not Rotala going under!

 

[MCW]

I'm shocked at how many companies are going under also. However, I breathe a sigh of relief that it's not Rotala going under!

I'm gutted it isn't First group.... to an extent... but that folks, is another story.

but yes, it does seem like there is another blip where we get many companies going into administration.

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

I'm gutted it isn't First group.... to an extent... but that folks, is another story.

but yes, it does seem like there is another blip where we get many companies going into administration.

Couldn't get much worse at the moment. I feel that as a result, a slightly larger company such as Redline will be going under next. And that's going to be bad news for the local area.

 

[Tomonthetrain]

I'm gutted it isn't First group.... to an extent... but that folks, is another story.

but yes, it does seem like there is another blip where we get many companies going into administration.

We all have our pet companies that we want rid of (mines Rotala)

But on a sad note its sad to see another company go under and staff lose jobs.

 

[Jonny]

Which is why it is vitally important to check the books (per companies house or a mirroring website) before making a booking (assuming it's a limited liability company).

 

[A0]

Update on this - the administrators have managed to sell the Jeffs Coaches element - doesn't say who to though.

No word as yet on the other parts of the business.


http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/n...old-after-going-into-administration-1-4453399