X-Hell: Holiday firm's collapse leave Hudds holiday makers stuck

Sep 13 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A HUDDERSFIELD couple are among thousands of holidaymakers stranded overseas after their travel company collapsed.

More than a quarter of a million people are thought to have either booked holidays with XL Leisure Group or been away on holiday when the company dramatically folded early yesterday.

Graham Brown and his partner, Maureen Clark, were due to fly back to their home in Holmfirth yesterday after a two-week sunshine break in Greece.

But early yesterday morning news broke their holiday company, XL Leisure Group, had filed for administration and all flights connected to the company were grounded.

More than 65,000 holidaymakers were stranded abroad.

Meanwhile, the 1,700 staff employed worldwide by XL Leisure Group, based in Crawley, West Sussex, were facing an uncertain future.

Graham has revealed it seems XL could have been in problems for months.

The owner of apartments where they were staying in Greece told Graham she had not been paid for weeks – and burst into tears when told the company had ceased trading.

Graham said: “Many people have stayed in the apartments over the summer and she has not been paid for months. On top of that it’s been very hot out here and everyone will have had the air conditioning going full blast so she will also have to pay all the electricity bills.’’