Sunvil

100% FINANCIAL PROTECTION GUARANTEED WITH SUNVIL HOLIDAYS...

As the manner in which holidays are booked has changed over the last 8 – 10 years, a great many discrepancies have arisen with regard to the financial protection being offered by tour operators and travel agents to their clients. The anomalies in the financial protection being offered were recently highlighted when the XL Holiday and Airline Group collapsed. Sunvil offers a 100% financial guarantee which is made up as follows:

FULL PACKAGE
A full package is made up of any travel arrangements which include a flight element. In the event that Sunvil should fail, any repatriation required or any refund of monies held by Sunvil for holidays to be provided in the future, are covered by the company’s ATOL Bond (Air Travel Organisers’ Licence) held by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA will, therefore, arrange any necessary repatriation and any refund of monies paid to Sunvil in advance. Payment will also be made direct to suppliers by the CAA in order to enable those on holiday at the time of a collapse to continue with their vacation.

PACKAGE WITH NO FLIGHTS
A package with no flights is made up of accommodation and other ground arrangements where clients have organised their own flights. In the event that Sunvil fails, then any suppliers who have not yet been paid for holidays which are currently under way will be reimbursed by our Bond Obligors, Travel & General, via AITO Trust which is a trade body licensed by Government for financial guarantee purposes.

Clients will, therefore, be able to complete their holiday. The Trust will also refund any monies for ground arrangements made by Sunvil which have not as yet been taken but for which money has been received by the company in advance. In this case, reimbursement covers only the elements of the holiday booked with Sunvil. It does not cover the client in the event of the failure of the airline with which they have booked their flights.

ACCOMMODATION ONLY
Sunvil also provides a financial guarantee when accommodation only has been booked - even though this is not required by law. In the event that Sunvil fails, any accommodation provider will be paid by Travel & General/AITO Trust so that any clients currently on holiday will be able to complete their trip. The Trust will also cover any monies received by Sunvil in advance for accommodation only to be taken in the future. Again, the client is not covered in the event of the failure of the airline with which they have booked their own flights.

* Sunvil therefore covers all aspects of its turnover with a financial guarantee so that every client knows they will not lose money in the event that the company fails *

RESPONSIBILITY IN THE EVENT OF A PROBLEM
It is also important to note that Sunvil always acts as a Principal, whether for a full Package, Package with no flights or accommodation only bookings. This means that Sunvil takes full responsibility for the actions of its suppliers and that the contract is always between the client and Sunvil.

The company does not act as an Agent which would mean that the contract would be between the client and the service provider abroad. Should there be a problem with any of the holiday arrangements booked with Sunvil, Sunvil would be liable for the actions of its suppliers. All contracts are, therefore, legally enforceable under UK law. Clients would not have to chase suppliers abroad.

A large number of travel providers now act as an agent for their suppliers. There are many financial benefits (less VAT) to them operating in this way but it provides no protection for the client. In the event of a problem overseas the client could be left to fight a supplier through the courts of that country.

DOES YOUR TRAVEL PROVIDER OFFER THE SAME LEVELS OF PROTECTION?
Often what can be perceived as a saving at the time of booking can be a major headache in the event of a problem.

Ultimately, buying a full package sold on one invoice is the only way of protecting yourself against the unforeseen. 2008 saw a number of companies, large and small, going out of business. If you book something other than the full package, should one element be cancelled you may find yourself in a tricky situation and out of pocket by hundreds of pounds as you could still have a valid contract with other suppliers for other elements which cannot be cancelled.

GUARANTEED 100% FINANCIAL PROTECTION FOR ALL ELEMENTS BOOKED WITH SUNVIL