Staff at Trafalgar Travel Agency have written to customers “with a very heavy heart” to confirm that the business will close on 31 May.
In a letter to customers, a spokesperson said the decision has been taken because of the growth in online holiday bookings, and the increased overheads experienced in Guernsey.
The closure will come less than a year after the travel agency’s parent company was sold.
The team working out of the Picquet House, at The Albany, St Peter Port, will remain employed by the company until the end of May, and they will continue to manage all existing bookings for travel before 1 June 2025.
Any bookings for travel after 1 June 2025 will be transferred to an alternative agency. Customers affected by this change will be contacted directly by the team at Trafalgar Travel.
A staff spokesperson told Express that this has been a very difficult for staff – some of whom have been with the company for a very long time – “however we all remain 100% committed to ensuing a very smooth transfer of bookings to another agency”, they said.
In the letter to customers, the team said that no new bookings are being taken, with the Agency going through a “controlled closure”.
“The decision to close wasn’t an easy one however with recent trends to online bookings and increased overheads, we have had to make this very sad and tough decision,” the letter said. “Your booking with us is very important and we understand there will be concerns however please be assured that your booking is protected and in very safe hands.”
While existing bookings for travel before 1 June will continue to be managed by Trafalgar Travel staff, customers with bookings for after that date will be transferred.
“We are working hard with alternative travel agents to ensure you receive the same high level of personal service that we offer and that the transition is as smooth as possible,” said Trafalgar Travel.
Expecting to be busy over the coming weeks as the business is wound down and bookings are transferred, Trafalgar Travel has asked for customers to be patient saying that travel advisors will contact those with bookings directly.
“I would like to take this opportunity, to thank you wholeheartedly for your support over the years and placing your trust in us to make your dreams a reality,” the letter to customers continued.
“Every booking has been a pleasure for us to manage for you and your support has meant we have continued to do the job we all love doing all these years. We can’t thank you enough.”
Trafalgar Travel is part of The Travel Corporation which is a global company owning a number of different brands including Contiki, Uniworld, and Adventure World.
Until last year, TTC was owned by the Tollman family.
It was then sold for an undisclosed sum to US private equity firm Apollo.
The Tollman family retained ownership of the Red Carnation Hotels group – which owns the OGH and Duke of Richmond hotels in Guernsey along with others across the world – when they sold the rest of TTC.