Major UK travel company falls into liquidation as all holidays cancelled

A British travel company has entered voluntary liquidation - with all planned holidays cancelled. Gold Crest Holidays , based in Ilkley, West Yorkshire , confirmed it had ceased operations after more than 30 years. The family-owned coach tour operator said it was "deeply saddened" to have entered liquidation . The firm organised trips across the UK and Europe including to Disneyland Paris and major sporting events. It cited financial pressures as the reason for the closure. Gold Crest Holidays, which also operated under the names Advent, Advent Tours and Overseas Dream Weddings, said all future departures would be cancelled and that the Association of British Travel Agents ( ABTA ) would manage refunds. The firm said the decision came after the "severe" impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, changes to key business arrangements and a challenging trading environment driven by sharply escalating costs. The company announced on its website in January that it had stopped trading. The business also thanked customers, travel agents, suppliers and staff for their loyalty over the years. The notice read: "After more than 30 years of creating unforgettable holidays, we are deeply saddened to announce that Gold Crest Holidays has ceased trading with immediate effect and has taken steps to enter voluntary liquidation. "This difficult decision follows the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, strategic changes in key partner arrangements that adversely affected our business, and a challenging trading environment with significantly rising costs. "We are immensely grateful to our loyal customers, travel agents, suppliers, and dedicated staff for your support over the years. We are truly sorry we can no longer continue." A statement for customers on ABTA's website read: "We regret that all future packages have been cancelled. If you are holding tickets for certain events, these may still be valid, and you can contact the event organisers to check this. You will, however, have to make alternative travel and accommodation arrangements. "Customers who booked through a travel agent should contact their agent before following the guidance below. Your travel agent will need to provide some information to us to assist with your claim. Customers who booked and paid Gold Crest Holidays by credit card should download a credit card referral letter and send to their credit card issuer for a refund."