Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Tour operator “Southern Cross” suspended operations – RBC

Tour operator "Southern Cross" suspended operations – RBC

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Tour operator “Southern Cross” declares the suspension of its activities in connection with the fall in demand for their services against the background of a string of bankruptcies of other tour companies, the press service of the company.

«Due to the inability to meet its obligations to the tourists and customers on contracts sale of the tourist LLC” Southern Cross Travel “forced to announce the suspension of its activities. Suspension of activities related to a strong decline in demand for tourism product on the background of the bankruptcy of a number of the largest tour operators, “- said in a statement posted on the company website.

The company has advised the affected tourists and other customers of the tourist product to issue a request for payment of insurance reimbursement of tourists to the insurance company «RESO-Guarantee».

Now abroad are 6.3 thousand. tour operator clients, primarily in Greece, Italy, China and the Dominican Republic, said RBC president “Southern Cross” Andrey Kuznetsov. He says that the company will do everything possible to minimize the damage to their clients: in particular, the airline “Transaero”, according to Kuznetsov, has promised to take out the tourists ‘Southern Cross’ home according to tickets issued to them, and one of the Greek partner – “Versus” – assured that allow tourists to stay on vacation and will not be evicted from their outstanding hotels. Negotiations on this subject is now under way with other Greek partner – “Ambotis».

Kuznetsov explained that after the collapse of the “Labyrinth” also specializes in Greece, the company found itself in a situation where customers are at the entrance, which should be sent to already paid vacation, but the new ones that are money, do not appear.

«It’s like a bank depositors withdraw money all at once,” – said Kuznetsov. The situation was aggravated refusal partner bank to continue to lend to the operator. “Of course, what happened is my fault that I could not properly assess the risks” – declared the president of “Southern Cross».

The situation was aggravated refusal partner bank to continue to lend to the operator. “Of course, what happened is my fault, who was unable to properly assess the risks” – declared the president of “Southern Cross».

Financial guarantee LLC “Southern Cross Travel” insured in “RESO-Guarantee” on 100 million rubles., the group also includes LLC “Romanov Laksheri Travel Club” with a guarantee of 30 million rubles., issued by the same insurer.

According to the press secretary Irina Rostourism SCHEGOLKOVA, quoted by Interfax, now abroad are about 10 thousand. customers “Southern Cross.” Several thousand customers have purchased tours, but now will not be able to travel abroad.

The fact that the “Southern Cross” may be another tour operator to recognize their financial insolvency, it became clear on Saturday when Rosturizm published on its website a warning that the airline “UTair” may be from September 7 cancel ordered “Southern Cross” charter flights to China and Greece. However, on Saturday, “Southern Cross” officially notified Rosturizm that flights to Greece take place. Evening of September 10 “UTair” announced the cancellation of all charter flights at the request of the “Southern Cross.”

According to the executive director of the Association of Russian Tour Operators Maya Lomidze, information about the eviction of clients “Southern Cross” from foreign hotels have not yet been reported.

Established in 1998, the “Southern Cross” specialized in Greece, and also called long-haul destinations: Southeast Asia, the Dominican Republic, Latin America, and Australia. In 2011, the company, according to its own data, sent abroad 171.8 thousand. Persons, turnover reached 5.62 billion rubles. With this measure of “Southern Cross” took 6th place in the ranking of the largest travel agencies of the country, compiled by the Association of Tour Operators of Russia and the newspaper “Kommersant” (it includes only those companies that have declared their performance). Later, these ratings were not completed.

In 2010, negotiations on the purchase of “Southern Cross” led Europe’s biggest tour operator TUI Travel, previously became co-owner of Russian VKO Group and Mostravel. But the deal did not take place. In 2011, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Transaero” Alexander Pleshakov said that the airline until the end of the year plans to announce the purchase of “large tour operator.” As it turned out, “Transaero” then negotiated the purchase of “Southern Cross”, but the deal did not materialize. In 2012, the “Southern Cross” announced that the Austrian Meinl Bank will buy 80% of the tour operator. But, according to SPARK in May 2013, the principal owners of the parent LLC “Southern Cross Travel”, were the founders of the tour operator Marina Borisov and Andrey Kuznetsov and CEO Dmitry Fesik.

Sergey Sobolev

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September 10, 2014

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